There was plenty of training action at the 25th annual Cook County Emergency Services Conference on Friday and Saturday, April 25-26. At the Grand Marais Recreation Park, a live burn trailer and this smoke-filled obstacle course gave firefighters the experience of entering a dark, confined, space. Colvill Firefighter Willie Olin makes his way out of the maze. See more about the conference on page A7.
As the Arrowhead region dug out after yet another blizzard, the 2014 Cook County Emergency Services Conference opened at the Cook County Community Center on Friday, April 26. Emergency Management Director Jim Wiinanen noted that it was “Severe Weather Awareness Week” and joked, “Looks like we complied!”
Welcome and thank you to emergency responders
County Administrator Jay Kieft also welcomed the approximately 50 people at the start of the conference, also commenting on the weather. “I’ve been here five months now—and I’ve seen green grass once,” he joked.
“But we’re loving it. The environment around us as well as the people. You’re a big part of that, you’re the pulse of the community,” said Kieft.
Wiinanen introduced the keynote speaker, Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety Mona Dohman. Dohman congratulated the community on its 25th annual Emergency Services Conference. She noted that she had a nice discussion with Rosemary Lamson, former public health nurse who was instrumental in starting the Emergency Services Conference. “In the Metro area we don’t often think about how difficult it can be to get training in these rural areas. It’s nice to see Rosemary and to know that what she started has been going on for 25 years.”
Left: Grand Marais Firefighter Mike Flack searches for the “victim” in the live burn trailer. Above: The 2014 honorees—Outstanding Emergency Services Provider Dave Gilmore and Friend of Emergency Services Award recipient Judy Sivertson—working out the kinks in emergency radio communications at the conference. This kind of work is exactly why they received the Emergency Services awards.
Dohman spoke more about the challenges of providing emergency services in Cook County. “The ‘remote’ aspects of your surroundings make this a gorgeous, desirable place to be—and can also make electronic communication a real challenge.”
She congratulated Cook County for moving its radio communications to the Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Responders (ARMER). She shared some of the state’s success stories with ARMER, which was used during response to the I35 bridge collapse, the 7,100-acre Menahga wildfire and the 100-year flood in Duluth.
“Unfortunately, there will be future examples, too. Things we can’t anticipate… But fortunately, we’ll be better prepared to handle them,” said Dohman.
She closed, “At the Department of Public Safety, we’re proud of our responders— full-time, paid-on-call, volunteer—and we’re committee to continuing our support of our good work.”
Communications and more
Emergency responders got down to work then, learning about the ARMER radio system in a number of classes. Working with them were some National Guard personnel—Air Force Master Sergeant Tom Walden and Staff Sergeant Tyler Stodola and Army Sergeant Troy Tretter. The National Guard personnel set up a remote communications platform (RCP) in the Community Center parking lot as part of the training.
Cook County personnel who have become proficient at ARMER shared what they have learned as Cook County moved to the new radio system. Deputy David Gilmore, Jail Administrator/ Dispatch Supervisor Judy Sivertson and IT/Radio Technician Rowan Watkins offered classes in communications on Friday and Saturday.
In addition to radio training, there were courses such as Psychological First Aid, on the Emergency Trail Marker Project, and landing zone protocols with Lifelink medical helicopters.
Firefighters gathered on the Grand Marais harbor on Saturday to test themselves in a live burn trailer and a smoke-filled obstacle course.
A bit of history with EMT Darrell Smith
Throughout the conference, members of different fire departments and medical squads visited, trading stories and tips on various emergencies they had experienced.
A Saturday night dinner prepared and served by Upper Lakes Foods was enjoyed by many attendees and after dinner, EMT and retired Cook County Ambulance Director Darrell Smith shared some memories of his 36 years in Cook County medical services.
Smith said the first ambulance was brought to Cook County by his grandfather in 1948. It was an old Army ambulance. He said he heard a story of a woman who was injured by Loon Lake who was transported in the old rig. She said the worse thing about the ride was the big, smelly, cigar smoked by the driver the whole way down the trail.
Smith recalled the changes from when he joined the ambulance service in the 1970s. At that time there were no radios or pages. The hospital used a phone and a list of names to get someone to respond. And on medical calls, they would have to use the phone at the patient’s house to contact the emergency room. “It was kind of a Mickey Mouse system,” said Smith.
He remembered one phone call requesting help at Brule. The crew didn’t know if it was Brule Lake, South Brule River crossing the Gunflint Trail or Brule River by Naniboujou Lodge? By the time they traveled to the wrong Brule location, the patient had been taken to the hospital. “Shortly after that, radios were put in the ambulances,” said Smith.
There was a lot of laughter and a few moments when the audience was close to tears, and Smith closed with thanks to all his colleagues. He noted that First Responders made the ambulance crew job much easier and actually saved many lives. He said he had taught probably 90 percent of Cook County’s EMTs and First Responders. “I’m so proud of all of them,” he said.
They seem to share the sentiment—there was a standing ovation for Smith as he ended his speech.
Recognition for radio work
Awards for Outstanding Emergency Services Provider and the Dolly Johnson Friend of Emergency Services Awards are presented at the ES Conference and this year, two of the people who have gone above and beyond in the transfer of communications to ARMER were recognized.
Jail Administrator/ Dispatch Supervisor Judy Sivertson received the Dolly Johnson Award. Sivertson received the award on Friday afternoon and she was too moved to speak. Later, she contacted the Cook County News-Herald and said she wanted to make sure everyone knew how honored she was to receive the award. “I worked with Dolly and she was the complete professional. It is a great honor to receive the award in her name,” said Sivertson.
Deputy David Gilmore received the Outstanding Emergency Services Provider Award at the Saturday night dinner. Sheriff Mark Falk commended Gilmore for all his work, saying, “If it wouldn’t have been for Dave, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
Deputy Gilmore accepted the award from Director Wiinanen and said, “It’s no secret that this stuff is a passion of mine.” He recalled when he was involved in an accident with his squad car and had difficulty with his radio. Even without radio communications, he knew responders were on the way to help him. “I look at this as payback to the EMS community. I’m thankful I’m able to give back to the community,” Gilmore said.
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