Annual EMS Conference addresses opioid use and mental health

Keynote presentations and thirteen breakout sessions were available to support CEU requirements for AEMTs, EMTs, EMRs, and paramedics. Some topics included: preparation for an active shooter situation, the opioid epidemic, and acceptance of mental disorders.

EIRMC Marketing and Community Relations Specialist, Jessica Clements explained, “For our community, that means that our EMS providers are better prepared, they have the most current training, and that they are ready when they roll on scene, and we’re very happy to provide this to them for free.”

This event, which is in its seventh year, brought in over 300 attendees.

A key focus of today’s event was directed at increasing activity between EMS and law enforcement.

Bill Arsenault, and Idaho Falls Fire Department firefighter and paramedic explained, “The reality of it is, people don’t look at a firetruck or an ambulance, or a police car as that one separate entity. The reality of it is, now, people look at that EMT, or that paramedic, or that fireman, as a part of the Law Enforcement, just different mission, different focus, but the goal is the same, and that is to save lives.”

Brad Davis, an Ammon firefighter stated, “This sort of training just makes us better prepared to serve the community, and to be ready for those situations that we may not be ready for right now.”

with your law enforcement agencies, putting aside those jurisdictional differences, and having fire, EMS and law enforcement have a one person approach to to a call.”

This conference was free and served as a thank you to all of those first responders and paramedics who continually serve our community.