From the moment Dr. Duane Craddock , from Coeur d’Alene pediatrics, entered the room you could tell he was very passionate about his job. He would light up when he talked about working with kids.
“I know some of you aren’t used to working with kids but love kids, I live in a kid world and when I have to deal with adults, sometimes I feel uncomfortable,” said Craddock.
Given his background as a pediatrician, he came to the conference to instruct the topic of pediatric respiratory disease. He laughed as he shared a memory with the room.
“Kids are amazing with what they’ll put in their mouths. I have a friend that collects things his patients will put in their ears,” said Dr. Duane Craddock.
North Idaho EMS conference took place during November 2, 3, and 4. Conferences were held for three days in order for people working in the Emergency Medical Services profession to get the opportunity to brush up on their skills. They will earn continuing education hours to support their license renewal requirements for paramedics, EMTs, EMRs, and AEMT
“Each workshop is packed with information designed to give you actionable knowledge and skills. Our experienced panels of presenters and industry experts will take you through real life examples of everyday challenges,” according to NIC’s Workforce Training and Community Education.
Jeff Lee, from Panhandle Health, has been an epidemiologist for 13 years and has worked in the health department for 20 years. He instructed the epidemiology lesson, discussed the West Nile virus, and covered a recent major disease outbreak in Washington. In which people had to stay in cabins.
Medical professionals from all different regions of Idaho attend these conferences that cover a wide variety of topics, such as patient packaging, gang safety, pediatrics, chemical suicide, childbirth, and epidemiology.
Terry Rogers has been working as an EMT on a volunteer basis for Upriver Ambulance since 1978. In the city of Fernwood, Idaho there are approximately 300 people and the other hospital is 40 minutes away. So if it weren’t for these volunteer EMT’s, people seeking immediate medical attention in this quaint little town might have been out-of-luck.
“It’s a very rewarding job and it’s very interesting. I can’t help but think what if it were my parents needing immediate medical attention and what that might be like,” said Rogers.
“NIC is a great meeting place for everyone because it’s in a convenient location. Our whole goal here is to get everyone as many hours of continuing education as possible,” Lynn Borders, the Chief of EMS for Kootenai County said,
Robin Lamarche has been a volunteer EMT for two and a half years in Tensed, Idaho.
“I thought I would be cleaning out the trucks or something, I didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into at first. After I passing the test and working there for a while I really liked it. We volunteers are not
paid. It feels good to give back to the community and helping out when I can. In these rural areas, a fast response can be the difference between life and death,” Lamarche said.
Jeff Wilder has been a volunteer at Clarkfort Valley Ambulance for 13 years and now works professionally for 5 years.
After working for Clarkfort for 13 years on a volunteer basis, they gave Wilder the position due to his dedication to the field.
Devoted and committed, these EMTs, EMRs and AMETs even got calls during the middle of the conference and have to leave because they’re always on the job.
“I do it to give back to the community that gave so much to me,” Wilde said..
