INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Bringing out the American Red Cross, Indian River County Fire Rescue and the We Care to Wear Pink Fire Engine, Treasure Coast Community Health’s Oslo Road center drew the attention of drivers-by, some who stopped to see what the event was all about.
Nichole Pardue was one such driver, who noticed the Sheriff’s patrol car stationed in the medium in front of 1545 Oslo Rd. Her three children and niece looked over and saw the vehicles – they made a stop.
“They know all about that stuff,” Pardue said of the big emergency vehicles, noting that the kids fascinated by them and have learned about them through books from the Main Library.
Which vehicle was their favorite resulted in a split vote. Four-year-old Dalton and 3-year-old Charlee liked the fire engine.
Deuxie, 5, liked the pink fire truck, as did 3 ½-year-old Jaya.
Breaking the tie was Pardue.
“I like Pumper,” she said, referring to the red fire engine. “But it’s neat to see a pink fire truck.”
The mini-emergency vehicle show was part of Treasure Coast Community Health’s outreach program, explained Executive Director Steve Dorrance., and is part of the organization’s plan to build strategic alliances with other non-profits who serve the same people.
Treasure Coast Community Health has several locations throughout Indian River County providing a variety of health care services. The Oslo Road facility, the largest of the locations, provides medical and dental services, including family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, radiology, and oral surgery. The center also handles minor emergencies and has its own medical lab.
“It is a largely unknown medical facility,” Dorrance said of what he calls the “best medical space” in the county.
As part of Saturday’s outreach, the center was opened for tours and two CPR/AED certification classes.
“It’s always good to keep up with the latest advances,” said Dolores LoMonaco, RN, of taking part in the certification class. “We don’t want to be dinosaurs.”
LoMonaco said that the recent changes to administering CPR could make it easier and less intimidating for non-medical people to perform in an emergency.
No longer are people encouraged to use mouth-to-mouth breathing, unless the emergency happens in a place where emergency personnel would not be able to arrive quickly.
Space Coast Life Saferz instructor Arlene Carlsen said she was happy to take on the classes at Treasure Coast Community Health on Saturday, noting that Dorrance reached out to her to provide instruction.
“I really just believe in it,” she said of teaching people how to perform CPR and use defibrillators.
By the end of the day, she expected to have nearly 50 people come through to learn CPR.
“We can make a difference by knowledge,” Carlsen said of training people to use the potentially life-saving activity.
“I need to keep my CPR skills updated at all times,” said medical missionary Sally Ewing, from World Medical Missions. She, too, pointed out that the simplification of CPR could lead to more people knowing what to do in an emergency.
As for the Treasure Coast Community Health facility, Ewing said it was wonderful to have such a place in the community to provide medical services to all people.
TCCH serves approximately 8 percent of Indian River County residents, according to Dorrance, taking patients regardless of whether or not they have medical health insurance.
For more information about TCCH, visit www.TCCHinc.org or call (772) 257-8224.
