AMR Paramedics Volunteer in Nepal

Ed's Note: Jonah Thompson, the Pennsylvania Field Operations Coordinator for Team Rubicon, a veteran-founded volunteer disaster response organization, will present "Mobile Disaster Medical Teams: Experiences from the Philippines and Nepal" at this year's World Trauma Symposium, scheduled for September 16 in Las Vegas, NV, in conjunction with EMS World Expo. Click here for more information.

Two sport utility vehicles bounce and shake their way along the mountainous Nepali roadways. Terraced steps line the deep valley below. However, on the highway leaving the Nepali capital of Kathmandu, it’s nearly impossible to look beyond the endless line of homes and businesses that were reduced to rubble following a series of devastating earthquakes that shook the country in April and May.

In the weeks following, relief organizations from across the globe rushed to Nepal’s aid. Among them was Pure Works Foundation’s ReliefWorks emergency response operation, which featured four AMR Ventura County caregivers.

“With so much damage to the country, even the smallest problems could quickly turn into big ones,” says Brandon Lindauer, AMR paramedic and Pure Works vice president. “Amidst the tragic events in Nepal, the people are moving forward and picking up their lives, and we are blessed to have had the chance to help get them back on their feet. We are thankful for, and look forward to, AMR’s continued support.”

The team was on the ground May 13–31 and treated approximately 1,000 people in three remote Nuwakot District villages—Khaniguan, Ganeshthan and Phalante—northwest of Kathmandu.

In addition, the team helped coordinate and transport six patients for desperately needed surgeries for broken femurs, hips and ribs resulting from building collapses or attempts to flee the devastation.

Lindauer, who coordinated and led the team in Nepal, has worked closely on Pure Works efforts for three years with fellow AMR paramedic Jonathan Graves, also a vice president with the nonprofit.

“AMR has been very supportive of international response teams over the years,” says Graves, who has served on international medical teams for more than 20 years and has previously been supported by AMR on emergency efforts in Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Haiti. “We were extremely thankful for the opportunity to come to Nepal and help out in any way we could.”

During the team’s three deployments, it treated a wide variety of ailments ranging from earthquake-related injuries to respiratory issues to diseases. AMR also provided a Lifepak 12 monitor for the team to conduct 12-lead EKGs.

The team worked closely with Israel-based relief organization IsraAID and local medical professionals, translators and assistants.

Future Doctor

The team met an energetic and motivated 12-year-old girl in Ganeshthan who had aspirations of one day becoming a doctor. Parisha worked beside the team every shift possible in her village, never slowing down and always helping.

Afterward, AMR paramedic Jon Everlove presented Parisha with her first stethoscope, bringing tears to her eyes and those of everyone on the team.

"She had the look on her face much like a child does at Christmas getting the perfect gift,” Everlove says. “She took a deep breath and she didn't let it out. She became weak in the knees and could hardly stand up. We gave her hugs and thanked her for what she had done. By the end, she was crying and we were crying. We realized that not only were we able to provide care because of her, but we were also able to touch the community in a way that we would have otherwise not been able to imagine because of her participation."

“As EMS providers, we have a very unique set of skills and tools we use every day to help reduce people’s suffering and save lives," says AMR paramedic supervisor Ambrose Stevens. "There is an extreme sense of fulfillment that comes with being able to use those skills to assist victims of disasters, especially when local conditions limit their access to medical services. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on this team and was humbled by the unconquerable spirit of the Nepali people and the compassion shown by my fellow team members.”

The AMR Ventura paramedics have worked very closely with their operation manager to secure the supplies and equipment donations, as well as scheduling their time away from their regular duties. For more information about Pure Works Foundation and its ReliefWorks teams, click here and follow them on Facebook. Follow AMR Ventura on Facebook.

Tom Wagner is responsible for the oversight of AMR's West Region, which provides 9-1-1 and non-emergency services in California and Hawaii. AMR's West Region team of clinical and operational professionals handle more than 997,000 ambulance responses a year, making it AMR's largest operating region. Wagner has more than 26 years of EMS operations experience. As a former Malcolm Baldridge Quality Award examiner for the State of Oklahoma, he has developed service excellence and performance standards for EMS systems across the nation. He is a member of the College of Health Care Executives and is completing his credentialing for his Certified Healthcare Executive certificate.