Starke County EMS Director Covers Upcoming Collaborative Airways Training with Commissioners

Posted on September 6, 2019

Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI 

Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary informed County Commissioners about an upcoming collaborative training opportunity that his department will be participating in.

Clary explained that Starke County EMS will be working with Lutheran EMS for a difficult airway course. He noted that he attended the same course in Fort Wayne back in March and mentioned that he is excited that the opportunity will be brought into the county free of charge.

Clary told Commissioners that the facilitators will bring in trauma surgeons to go over surgical airway options, intubations and several other techniques of the airway.

He added that it’s important for EMS personnel to keep these skills fresh because the airway is one of the most important parts of their job. He stated that if the patient does not have a clear airway, they have not achieved their job.  

North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Teams Up With Local Departments for Anhydrous Training

Posted on April 8, 2019
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

Members of the North Judson-Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department recently participated in a collaborative training session to prepare for agriculture season. 

Fire Chief Joe Leszek highlighted the opportunity when town council members met last Monday.

He explained, “We had a joint training tonight with LaCrosse Fire over anhydrous protocols.” Chief Leszek continued, “With planting season coming in, it’s usually something that we have to deal with at least once or twice.”

In a social media post made about Monday night’s training, officials shared that anhydrous ammonia is a common but dangerous fertilizer utilized by farmers throughout the area.

According to department reps, firefighters from LaCrosse, North Judson-Wayne Township and Kouts Departments toured the CFS fertilizer and chemical storage and serving facility.

During the tour, the captain of the LaCrosse Fire Department, who also works at the facility, discussed the construction types of the buildings and identified locations of all the hazardous materials.

Some pre-planning for a fire or an incident where an evacuation would be called for was also done during the training session.