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Volunteer Individual of the Year
Featured on KCRG-TV9
CEDAR RAPIDS — Ambulance services in rural areas are often
underfunded, and require the help of volunteers like Wendy
Frentress, a paramedic currently working with Blairstown
Ambulance. She’s been recognized by the Iowa Emergency Medical
Services Association with the Volunteer Individual of the Year
award. That’s why she’s the focus of this week’s Show You Care
Spotlight.
The loss of a family member inspired Frentress to become a
paramedic back in 2001.
“my father had actually passed away in a Hardee’s, and a person
there did CPR, and I wanted to give back what they gave to him,”
said Frentress.
Since then, she’s been on calls for ambulances services in
Urbana, North Benton, Iowa County, and Belle Plaine. It’s an
unpredictable job that keeps her on her toes.
“Getting up out of bed in the middle of the night, not knowing
what you’re actually going to run into,” Frentress said,
smiling.
Dr. Brian Meeker at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton said people
like Wendy make it possible for medical centers like theirs to
save lives.
“When you dial 911, you expect people to come, but if it wasn’t
for the volunteer aspect of it, that couldn’t happen,” Meeker
said. “It’s a calling; it’s not for everybody, and we very much
appreciate anybody who’s willing to volunteer.”
But for Wendy, working with her fellow EMT’s and patients makes
it all worthwhile.
“We have our good times, our good calls, we have our bad calls,
some are just funny. The people are just a joy to work with,”
Frentress told us, recalling her encounter with one patient — a
man with heart arrhythmia — after she helped stabilize him.
“He looked at me and I said, ‘do you feel better?’ I said, ‘I
could just hug you, your rhythm changed.’ And he said, ‘well go
ahead then, go ahead and hug me,’ so I did.”
Wendy said moments like that make her want to keep going, “as
long as I’m able to.”
Wendy will attend the Stars of Life Conference in Washington
D.C. in April, as a result of receiving the Volunteer Individual
of the Year award. |
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2023 HONORING OUR OWN CEREMONY
Join us for the IEMSA Honoring Our Own Ceremony at CCCU/Veterans Memorial in Des Moines, in conjunction with the 33nd Annual IEMSA Annual Conference and Trade Show at 7:45 AM on Saturday, November 11, 2023 in the Level 3 Ballroom. If you know of any EMS, Fire, Dispatch, EMS Instructor, or Friend of EMS who made significant contributions to our EMS profession that are no longer with us and should be honored in this ceremony, please contact us by email here.
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Join the Iowa
EMS Association
Being a member
of the Iowa EMS Association means your voice is one of the many
joining together for positive change in Iowa EMS. And with
individual memberships starting at just $30.00, you'll likely get a
lot more than what you originally invest. Learn more
here. |
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Apply for an IEMSA Educational Scholarship
Interested in applying for an IEMSA EMS Scholarship? Then click
here for the
official application! Hurry, this year's deadline is September 1. |
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Board meetings
IEMSA board meetings are held
on the third Thursday of every month unless otherwise noted. Regular
meetings will be held by teleconference or at West Des Moines EMS Station
19, 8055 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
unless otherwise noted.
2023 EVENT & Board
Meeting Dates
Public Safety Boot Camp
April 26 & 27, 2023
8:00 AM-5:00 PM
WDM Hilton Garden Inn
Board Meeting (May)
No Meeting
EMS Memorial (EMS Week)
May 20, 2023
10:00-11:30 AM
WDM Station #19, EMS Memorial
Board Meeting (June)
June 15, 2023
Zoom Meeting
Board Meeting (July)
July 20, 2023
Billing/CADS Conference in DSM
August 15 & 16, 2023
All-day Tuesday & Wednesday
WDM Hilton Garden Inn
Board Meeting (August)
No Meeting
Board Meeting (September)
September 21, 2023
Board Meeting (October)
October 19, 2023
Board Meeting (November)
No Meeting
33rd Annual IEMSA Conference & Trade Show in DSM
November 9-11, 2023
Iowa Event Center DSM
Board Meeting (December)
December 21, 2023 |
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2024 Annual Member Meeting
February 15, 2024
4:00-5:00 p.m.
By Zoom
2024 SE EMS Saturday
TBD (February 2024)
2024 EMS Memorial Ceremony
Saturday, May 18, 2024
EMS Memorial / WDM Station #19
Application for engraving your hero on the memorial
2024 20th Annual IEMSA Billing &
Documentation Conference
Tuesday & Wednesday,
August 13 & 14, 2024
WDM Hilton Garden Inn, West Des Moines
2024 34th Annual IEMSA
Conference & Trade Show
November 8-10, 2024
Iowa Event Center
2025 Public Safety Boot Camp
with Jon Politis
September 24 & 25, 2025
Tuition: $250 (Includes: Lunch Both
Days, Textbook and Resources Thumb Drive)
WDM Hilton Garden Inn, West Des Moines
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Group Purchasing Partner
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