April 12, 2005 BERLIN, VT – The Central Vermont Hospital recently donated defibrillators and other medical equipment to the Vermont Army National Guard.
CVH Materials Manager Linda Squier was initially contacted by Thomas Middleton, a CVH Emergency Department Nurse, serving in the Guard and stationed at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, regarding a defibrillator and an EKG machine for their unit. Joe Nelson, a Bio-Med tech, also working at CVH before his deployment, stationed in Mississippi, had remembered that CVH had placed a defibrillator and an EKG machine in storage, after they had been replaced with more up-to-date equipment. Civilian soldiers bring a lot of experience with them when they are mobilized for active duty, and although not a technical requirement for their unit, both soldiers could see how this equipment could be used effectively during training and in the field.
After receiving Tom’s email, Linda contacted CVH Director of Ambulatory Services, Karin Morrow. “The equipment is still serviceable and could help save a life,” said Linda. Karin wholeheartedly endorsed the plan.
The medical equipment will be used to train soldiers, at Camp Shelby, Miss., who are preparing for deployments. When the Soldiers ship from the Camp Shelby they will take the equipment with them to Iraq and be used in support of their mission.
“Their training, and their actual mission, will be greatly enhanced by having actual equipment they will be using in a real world environment,” said Sgt. Thomas A. Middleton, a Soldier deployed with Task Force Saber. |
