Save the Date: August 25, 2023

First Responder Summit: Addiction and Mental Health in South Dakota

Event is open to the public including: Counselors, Health Professionals, Community Providers, First Responders, Etc. 

Network and Connect with Peers and Resources

Discuss Addiction and Mental Health Solutions

Enjoy Free Lunch

.5 Continuing Education Credits Available

Hey all, 

Your association is in need of nominees for the various awards. You all know someone, a service, EMT, Military Medic, Paramedic, and others that are deserving of being recognized. Please nominate them. Notify your district president and vice president, they can help guide you in the process. 

SDEMSA is looking for a Historian. This individual will be responsible for holding all the historical documentation and presenting it at special events, such as the annual conference. If interested, please contact myself or your district president. 

Thank you all, 

Keith

HMP/EMS World Expo Provides SDEMSA:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) have worked together to create an online resource called the EMS Legislative Database, which provides up-to-date, real-time information about enacted EMS legislation in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. 

The EMS Legislative Database offers a summary of key enacted EMS legislation in an easy-to-use resource allowing you to search legislation by year, state, topic, keyword, status, or primary sponsor. New legislation is added weekly. 

Searchable topics include:

In 2022, at least 39 states and territories enacted 113 bills to address various challenges in the EMS community, including the supply of EMS clinicians, limited funding, violence against EMS clinicians, long ambulance offload times and supply chain delays. 

For more information about the EMS Legislative Database, 2022 Legislation updates or the State EMS Bill Tracking Database visit www.ncsl.org or contact Annie Kitch with NCSL at annie.kitch@ncsl.org and Kate Elkins with the NHTSA Office of EMS at katherine.elkins@dot.gov.

VIEW DATABASE

Hello All!

National EMS Week is May 21st - May 27th and Scheels + SD DoH would like to celebrate all of you! You and your families are invited to either the Sioux Falls or Rapid City Scheels for a little thank you reception on Sunday May 21st at 9:30 AM!

During this time, we will take a large group picture to give you a special shoutout on social media as well as give you each a YETI mug from the Rescue Red collection! This collection was inspired by those of you that risk your lives to save others, and it was inspired to honor local heroes in South Dakota!

Below is a short google for that we would like you to fill out letting us know which store you will be able to make it to. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qA9Tts8H1hpVW3o5wjvbUyL74UrNjHYo_whodsebPNo/viewform?edit_requested=true

The South Dakota Firefighters Association in conjunction with the Dakota Territory Fire Chaplains is offering the following class at the state fire school June 16 & 17 at Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, SD: Stress Management for the Trauma Service Provider.

This important course is for all who work with traumatized people. Explore the “Stress Continuum,” the levels of stress including eustress (i.e., beneficial, motivating stress), traumatic stress, burnout, countertransference, compassion fatigue or secondary PTSD, and vicarious traumatization which may occur as a result of helping others. A discussion of coping strategies for those who work with traumatized children will also be offered. Individual self-report exercises and an experiential group support session will assist the participating trauma provider in assessing their own level of stress through sharing personal experiences with others. Stress management self care techniques will be presented, experienced and discussed.

Program Highlights:

•  The Stress Continuum
• Signs and Symptoms of excessive stress
• Stress as related to work as a trauma provider
• A variety of stress management techniques
• Stress management in relation to context
• Vicarious traumatization
• Compassion fatigue and burnout
• Stress resilience
• Achieve resilience and effective self care
• Motivating factors for the work we do
• Working with trauma survivors

1.3 General CEU's from University of Maryland, Baltimore, County Dept. of Emergency Services Professionals and Continuing Education.

Speakers

Ed Hatcher - Chaplain

Chaplain Edgar Hatcher is a retired Air Force chaplain with 42 years of pastoral experience, and 11 years of clinical experience. He is an approved instructor with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and holds all ICISF Certificates of Specialized Training. He worked 5 years as a child therapist and school counselor with Lutheran Family and Children Services and is lifetime member of the National Organization for Victim Assistance. He currently works with fire, emergency medical, law enforcement and faith-based disaster response agencies promoting stress management, peer support, behavioral health, and disaster mental health. Academic: EdD Argosy University: Community Pastoral Counseling: focus on trauma, theodicy, moral and spiritual injury. MSHS: Capella University: Mental health counseling MDiv: Wartburg Theological Seminary BA: California Lutheran College: Political Science with minors in history, philosophy, and literature. Licensure/Certification: Licensed Professional Counselor Missouri National Certified Counselor Certified Play Therapist Certified EMDR Therapist Diplomate, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress Certified, Critical Incident Stress Management; University of Maryland - Baltimore County.

Rodney Veldhuizen - Chaplain

Chaplain Rodney Veldhuizen is a veteran of the Fire Service, having served with four different departments since 1984. He has served with departments in Eddyvillle, Iowa; Canton, and Yankton, SD and currently serves as the Chaplain of Custer Volunteer Fire Department. Chaplain Rod is also the Director of the Dakota Territory Fire Chaplains Association and a member of the Black Hills Fire Chaplain’s Association. Chaplain Rod holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Philosophy and Psychology, has earned a Master of Divinity, a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy as well as a Dr. of Ministry. Chaplain Rod is an ordained Minister, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and holds Master Chaplain standing with the Federation of Fire Chaplains.

Registration Information:

EMS ON THE HILL REPORT 2023.docx

I want to THANK the Association for the opportunity to represent South Dakota in Washington, DC for EMS on the Hill. It was truly an experience of a lifetime. I have included a report of what was discussed at the Senators and Representatives' offices. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, Maynard Koneche.

Dave Dermann, Intervention Nurse from the Bryan Independence Center, will speak about Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention in the context of trauma care. Dave has had decades of experience guiding patients with addiction through recovery. This promises to be a compelling talk. 

The session is available free, via Zoom, Friday, April 28^th, noon-1PM. The webinar is offered to Bryan employees and all interested outside providers. Please see the attached information for full announcement details and information about registering for the Zoom link. 

One hour of nursing continuing education is offered for the session. Please note this activity emphasizes nursing care in the hospital setting. The trauma service will not be offering EMS continuing education for this session. 

Our “TGR” series will continue every fourth Friday of the month through August. 

We look forward to having you join us for this informative session on April 28th.

Register: https://bryanhealth.csod.com/selfreg/register.aspx?p=bryanhealth&c=professionals

I hope this article find you all doing well and enjoying the new layout for the EMT Thoughts. I am excited to see the changes being made to make this a better association for all of us. If you haven’t taken the time to see the updates to our website, please check out www.sdemsa.org. We know there are still updates to be made but it is looking great.

I had the opportunity to travel to Indianapolis, IN in February as a representative of our association at the State EMS Associations meeting. I was able to attend a few classes on management of EMS associations and see what other states are able to offer their members. I will be sharing a list of items with our Executive Council at the April meeting and if anyone would like to review, please let me know.

The SDEMSA I/C Society will be hosting a strategic planning session on April 29 in Chamberlain. As educators we need to identify the direction and needs of our students both with initial and continuing education.

The By-Law Committee will be meeting and working on the Policy and Procedures Manual. As you may remember we completely updated our By-Laws in 2022 with the intent of moving a number of items to the P&P Manual. The time is now to start that process and we will be providing updates as they are available.

If you would like to serve on any of the committees, please contact State President Keith Sharisky as we are always looking for help in making our association the best for its members. Stay Safe, Humble and Kind. Keep doing great things.

- Amy Marsh, SD EMSA Vice President

Volume 1.1 March 2023.pdf