ARMC Holds 10th Annual EMS & Tactical Medicine EXPO
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On May 18, 2022, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) held its 10th Annual EMS and Tactical Medicine Expo at the hospital in Colton, Calif. In honor of National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, which began in 1974, the event celebrated emergency medicine practitioners and provided valuable training and demonstrations for medical field students and the public.
The event served more than 450 members of the public from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. Visitors were able to view demonstrations that included a K-9 demonstration, a Jaws of Life demonstration, and a Stop the Bleed demonstration. Numerous emergency and tactical vehicles were on-site for up-close viewing and tours, including helicopters, ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks. Visitors could speak with EMS professionals from a variety of fields, including police and fire departments, SWAT units, and more.
“We are here for the betterment of health and safety in our community,” said William Gilbert, Hospital Director. “Providing education about all of these resources, and skilled individuals that you have in different agencies, means we can say to the community, ‘We are here for you.’”
Over a decade ago, ARMC’s Troy Pennington, D.O., and Michael Neeki, D.O., worked to expand the hospital’s emergency medical training by bringing together law enforcement, military agencies, and fire departments at the hospital as the center of care. They sought to break down the barriers between fields of emergency responders to provide better, more comprehensive emergency medical care.
Dr. Pennington, who oversaw the event’s Stop the Bleed demonstration, is ARMC’s Emergency Medical Services Fellowship Director. Dr. Pennington stated, “I really wanted to start a strong training and education program to bring everyone together for EMS Week.”
“The pre-hospital and community care is changing, and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center is an important part of that change, said Dr. Neeki. “We can’t just be in the hospital. Our team is trained for pre-hospital and community service.”
