About 80 emergency medical professionals from Southeast Alaska, Yukon and Washington state will head to town this month for Haines’ first EMS Symposium.
Julie Anderson, Haines volunteer EMS director and flight nurse with Airlift Northwest, said the regional conference has been hosted all over Southeast for the last 30 years, but she is excited that the trainings will be accessible to all Haines fire and ambulance volunteers this year.
Coordinated by Southeast Region EMS, Inc., the symposium brings a mix of pre-hospital emergency medical professionals and clinical providers together for hands-on training, classes and educational presentations.
“We’re really excited to host the symposium in Haines and we’re looking forward to showcasing all the amazing things about our town,” Anderson said.
Anderson said the first three days of the symposium, April 18-20, will be pre-symposium sessions that offer day-long certification courses. The weekend will be formatted with a variety of shorter speaker sessions at Haines High School.
Notable speakers include faculty from University of Washington Medicine and Harborview Medical Center, including Lisa Davidson, PhD who will speak about pediatric critical care cases and pediatric trauma physiology, Dr. Richard B. Utarnachitt speaking about crush injuries and Dr. Matthew Valento speaking about cannabinoids.
Anderson said local restaurants and businesses have been accommodating for the large group. “People have been really welcoming and eager to help. It’s going to super fun,” Anderson said.