COLTON>> Coinciding with National Emergency Medical Services Week (EMS), Arrowhead Regional Medical Center’s (ARMC) Department of Emergency Medicine held its Fourth Annual EMS and Tactical Medicine Expo on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. The event brought together countywide organizations that work with ARMC’s EMS department, including the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Inland Valley SWAT Team, City of Colton, City of Rialto Fire and Police Departments, and San Bernardino Medical Reserve Corps. The event was open to the public and also attended by San Bernardino County’s Board of Supervisors, along with groups of students from Colton High School, Grand Terrace High School, and Curtis Middle School.
Located in the largest geographic county in the contiguous United States, ARMC is a Level II Trauma Center and one of the most advanced health care institutions in the country. The County’s Board of Supervisors who were present at the event and made opening remarks included Robert Lovingood, Janice Rutherford, Curt Hagman, and Hezekiah Herrera representing Supervisor Josie Gonzales. The various organizations then showcased their life-saving techniques and equipment along with interactive demonstrations. The City of Colton Fire Department performed a ‘jaws of life’ procedure, taking apart a car for the audience to see the steps of the process. K9 police officers presented a mock demonstration of a trained K9 apprehending a suspect, as well as a demonstration of a narcotics K9 identifying one of the many bag props containing narcotics.
“This event is a collaborative effort that illustrates the many working entities involved in supporting one another throughout the county, and brings to light just some of the many challenges EMS personnel undergo every day,” said Rodney Borger, MD, Emergency Medicine Chairman at ARMC. “We extend our celebration to honor our partners and the shared values of service to this community.”
As part of ARMC’s Community Engagement Plan and San Bernardino County’s “Cradle to Career” efforts, three area schools participated in the event with dozens of students coming from Colton High School’s Health Education Academy of Learning (HEAL) program designed for students who have expressed an interest in a healthcare career, Grand Terrace High School’s CARE Pathway student program that provides the skills and certification necessary to work in the healthcare profession as a Certified Medical Assistant, and Curtis Middle School students. The event provided students with a introduction to career options in the healthcare and EMS fields.
With more than two million people living in San Bernardino County, ARMC proudly serves and employs many community members. ARMC offers a variety of career opportunities in clinical, administrative, and other support roles. The facility regularly engages with area schools to educate students about careers in healthcare.
ARMC is a 456-bed university-affiliated teaching hospital licensed by the State of California Department of Public Health, operated by the County of San Bernardino, and governed by the Board of Supervisors. The hospital, located on a 70-acre campus in Colton, California, operates a regional burn center, level II trauma center, primary stroke center, a behavioral health center, four primary care centers including three family health centers, and provides more than 40 outpatient specialty care services. ARMC is helping to achieve the Countywide Vision by addressing the community’s wellness and educational needs. For more information on the Countywide Vision, visit: www.sbcounty.gov/vision. For more information about ARMC visit www.arrowheadmedcenter.org. Follow ARMC on Twitter at @ArrowheadRMC for important announcements and updates, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arrowheadregional. ARMC is located at 400 N. Pepper Avenue in Colton, and can be reached at (909) 580-1000.