Spirit EMS hosts ‘Ho Ho Ho Workshop’

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Gaylen Blosser photo

GREENVILLE—Spirit EMS hosted its “Santa’s Ho Ho Ho Workshop” for employees. “Ho Ho Ho” stands for “Hands-On, Hands-On, Hands-On”. The workshop was open to all Spirit EMS Providers.

The workshop is designated to teach a variety of important skill sets that EMS providers should be prepared for, but these may not necessarily be the day-to-day skills they use. The workshop began several years ago, paused, and was rekindled again this year.

“We focus on safety-minded skills,” said Brian K. Hathaway, President and CEO of Spirit EMS. “We’re highlighting some procedures within the protocol, as well as skills that may have changed or non-critical skills that can be easily missed.”

Hathaway shared his excitement about the workshop and bringing the opportunity back to EMS providers. He also shared that they just had sixteen people graduate from their EMT classes held in partnership with Four County Career Center.

The workshop will also help provide those new graduates with skills to further prepare them for the field. It will also allow them to train other seasoned EMS providers and provide them with a good foundation toolbox starting out their EMS career.

“I can’t speak highly enough about my team and everyone who has devoted an exceptional

amount of their time to put together this phenomenal training.”

Hathaway also shared that Dr. Emily Kraft, medical director for Spirit EMS, was on hand for the training and was impressed by the immense amount of work that went into preparing for the Workshop.

A big part of the training also involved new equipment the company has purchased and implemented in recent years, ensuring that everyone has the correct training in case they need to use it in the field. Spirit EMS strives to be progressive in its work and stay up-to-date as equipment or information changes.

Hathaway shared that they started in early December with over three days of training their EMS field providers, and by the end of the month, their van drivers and even office staff will have completed training geared towards their positions.

Gaylen Blosser photo

Some of the leadership including their captains from Spirit EMS lead those trainings.

“I placed a lot of emphasis on our teamwork, with effectively moving patients from point A to B or getting patients home safely,” said Captain Will Gardam. “We discussed and formulated different ideas and techniques.”

Gardam shared that 25% of all EMS workers have a career-ending back injury in their first four years of practice. He went on to explain that was the reason he chose this point to speak on and push everyone to learn and understand the importance of those correct techniques.

Paramedic and Spirit EMS Instructor Scott Wolf also shared insight into his session regarding Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support care principles. They went over CPR procedures, advanced airways, and the use of capnography to determine a patient’s circulation.

Spirit EMS strives to stay true to their mission, and this workshop is just one of the ways that they stay prepared and ready for their daily fieldwork.

Their mission remains true, “Our Family Taking Care of Your Family.”