IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY DIALEd Smith, Paramedic, celebrates 40 Years at Hall Ambulance
Ed Smith joined Hall Ambulance on May 5, 1972. He started his career as an ambulance attendant with an advanced first aid certification. In 1973 Ed completed EMT training and in 1975 he enrolled in and completed the first Paramedic program in Kern County and became only the third Paramedic in Kern County. In 1987 Ed was promoted to Paramedic Field Supervisor. Today Ed is a communications technology specialist and is responsible for maintaining a diverse communications system.
Harvey L. Hall, founder and President of Hall Ambulance, acknowledged Ed during a brief ceremony this morning. Mr. Hall remarked that he has been blessed to have Ed’s service for so many years.
Smith will be honored by the Kern County EMS Division with a Lifetime Achievement Award at a meeting of the County of Kern Board of Supervisors on May 22nd at 0900.
Hall Ambulance Employees honored by California Ambulance Association
The California Ambulance Association (CAA) honored several employees including Harvey L. Hall, Founder and President of Hall Ambulance with Stars of Life at the CAA’s annual recognition event. The event is an opportunity for the CAA to recognize EMTs, Paramedics, Emergency Medical Dispatchers, Nurses and others affiliated with providing ambulance service for their efforts during the last year. Along with a dinner featuring a keynote address by Dr. Howard Backer of the California Emergency Medical Services Authority, the Stars got to tour the capitol and meet with several legislators.
Hall employees honored by the CAA included,
Harvey L. Hall for his continued commitment to quality service and employee recognition.
EMT Tamera Wilson for her efforts to assist a choking child.
EMT Mike Hilliard and Paramedic Jeff Perkins for their efforts to save a cardiac arrest vistim.
EMT James Bradbury for his efforts in support of the Hall Explorer Post and other community events.
EMT Eileen Navarro, Paramedic Tanya Johnson, Flight Paramedic Shawn Perryman, Flight Nurse Heidi Woods, and Pilot Steven Lewis for their collective efforts to revive a cardiac arrest victim.
Critical Care Nurse Kerry Monk for her outstanding customer service skills and dedication to her job.
The CAA recognized 43 Stars from across the State during this year’s event.
Public Notice
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems will conduct an accreditation site visit of:
Hall Critical Care Transport Service
On March 6th and 7th 2012
The purpose of the site visit will be to evaluate the program’s compliance with nationally established medical transport standards. The site visit results will be used to determine whether, and the conditions under which accreditation should be awarded to the program.
CAMTS accreditation standards deal with issues of patient care and safety of the transport environment. Anyone believing that he or she has pertinent or valid information about such matters may request a public information interview with the CAMTS site surveyors at the time of the site visit. Information presented at the interview will be carefully evaluated for relevance to the accreditation process. Requests for public information interviews must be made in writing and sent to CAMTS no later than 5 business days before the site survey begins. The request should also indicate the nature of the information to be provided during the interview. Such request should be addressed to:
Office of the Executive Director
Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems
PO Box 130
Sandy Springs, SC 29677
The Commission will acknowledge such written requests in writing or by
telephone and will inform the program of the request for an interview. The
program will, in turn, notify the interviewee of the date, time and place of the meeting.
This notice is posted in accordance with the CAMTS requirements and may not be removed until the site visit is completed.
Mayor Hall Receives National Honor
Hall Ambulance Service Founder and Owner; and Bakersfield Mayor, Harvey L. Hall, was honored recently by the Keep America Beautiful Foundation with the Iron Eyes Cody Award.
Hall received the award, which is the highest honor that the organization can bestow upon an individual at their annual conference in New Orleans.
The award recognized Hall’s commitment to and leadership in raising awareness in Bakersfield about preventing litter, keeping our roadsides clear, and encouraging community participation in activities to make Bakersfield a cleaner and better place to live.
Mayor Hall’s Freeway Litter Clean-up’s are scheduled twice monthly, and individuals, families, and community orgainzations are always encouraged to help. To find out more information or sign up for the next Mayor’s Freeway Clean-up, contact Mayor Hall’s office at 661-326-3770.
Mayor Hall hosts first freeway clean up of the fall this Saturday
Mayor Harvey L. Hall will host his first highway clean up of the fall this Saturday, Oct 1. Mayor Hall and his all volunteer crew will remove trash and debris from the on ramps and off ramps along the highway 99 corridor. The volunteers will meet at 8:45 at the Stockdale Hwy Park and Ride (just west of hwy 99) and will be completed by 11:00 am.
Mayor Hall’s freeway clean up project is in it’s ninth year and has removed 2,468 bags of trash from the on ramps and off ramps. Service clubs, civic groups, church groups and neighbors are all encouraged to participate and help keep Bakersfield Beautiful.
Additional clean up days are planned on October 1st and 22nd.
Contact the Mayor’s office at 661-326-3770 for more information.
Hall Ambulance crew reunited with cardiac arrest survivor
Hall Ambulance Paramedic Jeff Perkins and EMT Mike Hilliard along with Bakersfield Fire Department staff were reunited with sudden cardiac arrest survivor Ron Klawitter on Wednesday morning.
Former Hall Ambulance employee Ron Klawitter and his family meet with Harvey Hall, The Paramedic Ambulance crew and Bakersfield Fire personnel.
Harvey L. Hall, Founder and President of Hall Ambulance facilitated the meeting. For Hall and Klawitter it was a walk down memory lane. Klawitter worked for Hall in the 1970′s and the two shared fond memories of days when they worked out of Tech 1, Hall’s first Cadillac ambulance.
During the event, Hall stressed the importance of someone in every home learning CPR. “It is because Ron’s wife knew CPR that my friend is here with us today” said Hall.
Klawitter suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on July 5th. His wife Jan, a CPR instructor, called 9-1-1 and then performed CPR until the Hall Paramedic Ambulance arrived two minutes later. Paramedic Perkins defibrillated Klawitter and was then assisted in resuscitative efforts by Bakersfield Fire Department Engine 7.
Klawitter gave thanks for his survival to his wife, the Hall Ambulance crew, the Bakersfield Fire crew and the 9-1-1 dispatcher.
Hall Paramedic Perkins said “This is a great example of a system of care that worked just as it should have”. He went on to add “If more people knew CPR, I think that we’d be celebrating many more of these great recoveries”.
Hall Ambulance Service spotlighted in Rotor Magazine
Hall Ambulance Service Featured in Rotor Magazine Summer 2011 Edition. Read More
Hall Ambulance Employees Honored for Long Term Commitment
Hall Ambulance Service employees were honored by Founder and President Harvey L Hall for their long term commitment to EMS during recent staff meetings.
25 Years
Darlene Williams was honored for 25 years of service. Williams started her career at Hall Ambulance in 1986 as a Wheel Chair Van driver. She moved into the business office 18 years ago serving in various roles over the years.
20 Years
Paramedic Marsha Starr was recognized for 20 years of service. Starr began her tenure in 1991. She is a past recipient of the prestigious President’s Award for Customer Service presented each year by Harvey L. Hall to the employee that best represents his customer service values. Starr is currently assigned to the Rosamond station.
Others recognized were
15 Years- Jason Scott, Paramedic
15 Years- Bryan Newton, EMT
10 Years- Angela Salazar, EMT
10 Years- Hank Blair, Mechanic
10 Years- Tracy Burnside, Business Office
10 Years- Mary Talbot, Payroll
Hall Ambulance Medical Director offers tips for dealing with the heat
As the summer starts to heat up and the sun reaches its solstice it’s important to re-visit some of the environmental emergencies that are indigenous to Bakersfield, namely heat injury. Hall Ambulance Service Medical Director, Dr. Ron Ostrom, explains that “heat related illness is a form of hyperthermia in which the body temperature is elevated dramatically”.
According to Ostrom, “The extreme form of heat stroke is a medical emergency and can be fatal if not properly treated.” Hall Ambulance’s Ostrom says that cooling the victim is a critical step in the treatment of heat stroke.
As is the case with all heat related emergencies however, Ostrom emphasizes that “The most important step is prevention.”
“An important component of prevention” according to Ostrom, “is adequate hydration and to avoid excessive physical activities in hot and humid weather.” The elderly and young are at greatest risk. Other at risk groups include athletes and outdoor laborers.
Avoiding dehydration can be accomplished with electrolyte containing sports drinks such as Gatorade, and water.
When heat illness occurs Ostrom recommends cooling the victim by moving them into a shady area, removing clothing, applying cool or tepid water, and fanning. Wearing light colored and loose fitting clothing is helpful, as well as spending at least a portion of the day in a cool environment.
Ostrom recommends that the elderly and medically frail spend as much time as possible in a cooler, climate controlled environment on hot days. Some of the spots recommended by Ostrom to cool off include shopping malls, restaurants, libraries, and the county operated cooling centers (call 800-510-2020 for more info).
“Every summer our paramedics come in contact with entirely too many heat related emergencies” according to Harvey L. Hall, Founder and President of Hall Ambulance Service; “Many of which are entirely preventable”.
“By following these simple steps, our hope is that everyone will have a safe and enjoyable summer” added Hall.
Hall Ambulance Employees help clean up Bakersfield
Hall Ambulance employees joined Mayor Harvey L. Hall (Founder and President of Hall Ambulance) with cleaning up trash from along the highway on ramps Saturday. Approximately 40 employees, family members and friends turned out to help Mayor Hall pick up trash dumped by motorist on Highway 99 at Ming Ave. and Highway 99 at California Avenue. It took the group about 90 minutes to complete the work. The project is a continuation Mayor Hall’s grass roots effort to keep Bakersfield Beautiful. You can contact the Mayor’s office at 661-326-3770 to learn how you can help Keep Bakersfield Beautiful.
