JAN UARY 2 0 2 4
PMREMS newsletter
regionalresource
All WeatherPrepared Dedicated to year-round training for our professionals and sharing preparedness planning for the public, Pocono Mountain Regional Emergency Medical Services joins our healthcare providers with well-being community awareness.
Whether full-time resident or welcomed visitor, information dedicated to safety in the snow is important for everyone to know. Be sure to follow us on acebook at PoconoMountainRegionalEmergencyMedicalServices as we continue contributing facts about EMS & more!
IN THIS EDITION
2 Plan Before Play
Winter Sports Suggestions
3 LVHN News
Cellular Therapy Close to Home
4 Dig into Snow Safety
Avoiding Health Hazards
5 St Luke’s
Expansion
6 PMREMS Connect Facebook facts
Stay connected
for videos, photos and up to the minute news
before
Y A PL
Emergency responders and healthcare professionals far and wide would side with the golden rule–plan before you play. Its not only a way to have a good time, it helps with injury prevention and ensures your well being, along with the safety of those around you. With this in mind, before you head out for winter sport recreation or even a snow clearing situation, be sure to follow a few simple rules:
Be Sure To Let Others Know Your Plans ...these include: where, when & what you’ll be doing
Bring A Cell Phone Should An Emergency Arise ...if unable to carry a mobile device, stay in sight of others
Stick To The Rules
...they are in place for a reason - your own safety -plus- the safety of others
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NEWS
Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute Launches Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program The first of its kind in the region, Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute’s Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program is now offering people with certain blood disorders and cancers access to stem cell transplants closer to home than ever before. “Stem cell transplants are a lifesaving treatment option, but they are also incredibly taxing for those receiving them and their loved ones,” says Brian A. Nester, DO, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). “In the past, our community members needed to travel out of the area for this treatment option, spending weeks in an unfamiliar hospital far from their homes. But now, thanks to incredibly generous gifts from Joe and Maureen Topper and Tom and Karin Hall, that is no longer the reality for our patients.” About stem cell transplants Stem cell transplants are a treatment option for certain blood disorders and cancers, including: • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) • Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) • Hodgkin lymphoma • Multiple myeloma • Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) • Myelofibrosis • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma Stem cell transplants take place after a patient has received treatments to destroy the diseased cells in their body. Healthy blood-forming stem cells are then infused into the patient to help restore bone marrow destroyed by the treatments given to treat their cancer or other condition. “While it’s important to provide exceptional care and comfort to all our patients, people needing a stem cell transplant need especially dedicated support. Patients receiving this treatment undergo many types of pre-transplant testing, need to come in for several outpatient appointments and spend weeks in the hospital during their treatment regimen. Having the comfort of their family and community members close by throughout their entire patient journey can make all the difference in their emotional health,” says Suresh Nair, MD, Physician in Chief, Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute. “It is a true honor to bring this lifesaving treatment option to our community, and it’s another important example of how Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute continues to move the needle forward in cancer care throughout our region.”
Specially trained staff members and state-of-the-art facilities The Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program is led by hematologist Amir Toor, MD, who has more than 20 years of experience with stem cell transplants and vast expertise with cellular therapies for hematologic malignancies. “Over the last few years, my colleagues and I have been hard at work building a specialized team of physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nurses, social workers, financial counselors and transplant coordinators who are specially trained to care for and support patients undergoing stem cell transplants. We’ve also overseen the development of designated spaces for the program, like an apheresis unit where stem cells are collected for transplants, and an inpatient unit specifically designed to keep our patients safe while they are receiving treatment,” Dr. Toor says. “It is an honor to bring stem cell transplantation to people in all the communities LVHN serves. Allowing people to receive this treatment in their own community is such an important step in advancing cancer care throughout the region, and it truly highlights our dedication to increasing comfort and convenience for our patients.”
Snowsafety
Severe snowstorms, even mild flurries, bring about concern over health hazards. Slip-and-falls, exposure to the elements, even shoveling statistically share a fair amount of risk of serious injuries, even death. Nationwide, snow shoveling is responsible for thousands of injuries, and as many as, 100 deaths each year. While most people won't have a problem, shoveling snow can put some at risk of a heart attack. Sudden exertion, like moving pounds of snow after being inactive for several months, can put tremendous strain on the heart. Even pushing a heavy snow blower can also cause harm. Add in the chill factor. Cold weather can increase heart rate and blood pressure. It can make blood clot more easily and constrict arteries; which decreases blood supply. Individuals over the age of 40 or who are relatively inactive should be particularly careful though this is true in healthy people too.
NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING TO SHOVEL SAFELY: •
Do not shovel after eating or while smoking
•
Take it slow & stretch out before you begin
•
Shovel only fresh, powdery snow; it's lighter • Push the snow rather than lifting it •
If you lift snow, use a small or only partially full shovel • Lift with your legs, not your back •
Do not work to the point of exhaustion • Know the signs of a heart attack, stop immediately & call 911 if you're experiencing any as every minute counts.
Pocono Mountain Regional Emergency Medical Services shares facts like these from professionals; though you should always consult your physician for advice before heading out in the ice.
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