Welcome!

Sacopee Rescue Unit has been getting lots of calls for people with "The Flu". Complaints range from difficulty breathing to endless vomiting and diarrhea. It seems like everyone is catching it and we are here to help. There are a few things you should know if you start to feel under the weather.

The actual flu, or influenza, is a respiratory illness that causes shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, phlegm, and general weakness and body aches. It comes in many varieties including Type A and B, H1N1 (remember that one?), and COVID-19. It seems to be worse for the very young and the elderly and can lead to complications such as pneumonia. Do you need an ambulance? Sometimes if it gets to be just too much. The walk-in clinic can handle many of the cases out there as can your PCP although they will call us if you are experiencing shortness of breath. This flu seems to be holding on to people for an extended length of time. Call your doctor, stay home, rest, drink fluids and follow your doctors advise for medicines. Don't hesitate to call us if you feel the need, We are always there for you. 

The "stomach flu" or norovirus is actually not the flu but it can reek havoc causing nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea and body aches. Sometimes this can go on for days or even more than a week. Call your doctor for advice on a medication that's right for you to treat the fever, nausea and diarrhea. Try to drink small amounts of water to keep from getting dehydrated. This can also fall under the walk-in clinics purview but again, don't hesitate to call us if it is kicking your butt. 

In both cases, don't be surprised to be placed in the waiting room at the hospital as they are overloaded with "flu" cases. Again, the very young and the elderly are subject to complications so don't wait forever to seek medical attention. The best way to avoid spreading the flu is stay home and wash your hands. Wear a surgical mask if you are around someone who has it. And don't worry, it can't last forever. It will soon be hay fever season!

Many people are dependent on oxygen to deal with problems like emphysema and COPD. Most of these folks use a concentrator that extracts the oxygen from the air in their homes and delivers it directly to the person using an oxygen line (nasal cannula). Most of these people also have several oxygen tanks on hand for power outages. Oxygen is a prescription medication and as such is dispensed and delivered by specific licensed companies.

If you fall into this category of individuals, it is extremely important that you keep your supply of standby oxygen at optimal levels. Contact your supplier and make sure you have enough bottled oxygen on hand to last up to several days. Ambulance companies typically do not have oxygen to deliver to people who are running out. We are also finding out that suppliers do not do emergency deliveries during bad storms.

Breathing is fundamental. Be sure you are prepared before the big storm hits. We seem to be having more major storms than ever before, and that's year 'round. 

More to come on Storm Preparedness......

We head out of the station for a 911 call for a person with some sort of emergency situation that is important enough that they need an ambulance right away.

We set the GPS if we are not familiar with the location and most of the time it will put us in the right neighborhood. Then we watch for the numbers on the mailboxes or on the fronts of houses. At least half the time, there is no number or the one on the box is illegible, worn out, too small or doesn't show up at night.

We suggest 3 inch reflective numbers on BOTH sides of the mailbox. We can't read what's on the mailbox door and dispatch did not give us your name. Numbers on the house should be the same. Ornate numbers usually cannot be read from the road, especially at night.

So, help us find you.  We are here to help. We just have to be able to find you.

Sacopee Rescue is participating in the Extending Learning Opportunities Program at Sacopee Valley High School and Maine EMS to provide a junior EMS learning program, The program is called EMS ConnectME and offers students a chance to explore the EMS world and participate in trainings and ride alongs. Students learn what it takes to be a first responder in our area. Many program participants have gone on to be paramedics, athletic trainers, nurses and even doctors! Contact Chief Mike Hatch at Sacopee Rescue or Elizabeth Sanborn, ELO coordinator at Sacopee Valley High School.