EMS Volunteers: Levi Johnson, Jotham Arber, Roberta Baldus and Logan Wolf. 10 Squared Women members and nominators: Maggie Armstrong and LuAnn Waldo.
Special to the Times Vedette
The 10 Squared Women of Guthrie County held its third-quarter meeting of 2024 on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at Twin Vines in Panora. Forty women attended in person, and six members attended via Zoom.
After hearing presentations from Friends of the Mary J Barnett Library (Guthrie Center), Guthrie County First Responders and Guthrie Center Farmer’s Market, the group announced a lump sum of $14,600 would be presented to Guthrie County First Responders. This consists of member donations and several employer matches.
Thanks to a group of five dedicated fire, EMS and law enforcement professionals, the Guthrie County First Responders Association was established in early 2023. The First Responders Association is committed to enhancing emergency response capabilities throughout the county by collaborating with existing fire and EMS providers to bolster local emergency medical resources, focusing on improving response times in rural areas.
Seconds can matter in a medical emergency. For someone experiencing a cardiac or pulmonary emergency, the survival rate decreases by 12% every minute the person does not have medical attention. So, getting a first responder to someone right away will help cut down that rate of fatality and help save lives.
One of the goals of the first responder program is to train at least two local responders to the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) levels in each community across the county, or about 15 new first responders by spring of 2025.
When a 911 medical call comes in, the first responders in that area will be dispatched along with EMS, fire and law enforcement. The goal is to be that fourth leg of the emergency chair: EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement and now First Responders.
Once the first responders arrive on scene at the medical emergency, they can begin to quickly assess the situation and help stabilize the patient. This could be CPR or using an AED if someone is in cardiac distress. They would have the capability to administer what’s considered pre-measured medication like epinephrine (through an epi pen) or albuterol to help open airways and stop allergic reactions. They can help someone having a diabetic episode as they’ll have access to glucose packets. They could stabilize a broken bone after a fall or help stop a patient who is bleeding from an injury.
The first responders will also be able to communicate with paramedics and EMTs who are in route via the ambulance to let them know what can be expected once on scene.
The funds from the 10 Squared Women will be used toward training and equipping first responders in Guthrie County.
“Thank you so much to the 10 Squared Women of Guthrie County for helping us begin to fulfill our mission of doing good and being G.R.E.A.T. (Guthrie Responders Equipped and Trained). We are forever grateful for the impact we know your contribution will have on the first responders in Guthrie County,” Jotham Arber said.
To learn more about the Guthrie County First Responders Association, training programs, discuss volunteer opportunities, or how to donate to the 501(c)3 organization, contact Jotham Arber, j.arber@guthriecounty.gov or 660-234-5067.
10 Squared Women’s focus is on donating funds to local organizations that vow to put those funds to work, right in our back yards. The funds are used in various projects to benefit Guthrie County community’s projects and residents. The group has donated $357,750 since its inception in 2017.
The 10 Squared Women’s group holds meetings quarterly the fourth Tuesday in February, May, August and November with dates and locations subject to change. Members in attendance hear from three nominated organizations, drawn from “the hat” of member-nominated organizations at random, and vote on the winning cause that night. The final 2024 meeting date will be Tuesday, Nov. 19 (held a week early due to Thanksgiving), at the St. Thomas More Center at Lake Panorama. The first meeting of 2025 will be on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Guthrie Center. Future 2025 meeting locations will be announced at a later date.
With the new members who joined as of date of this publication, the group currently has 144 members, approximately 23 organizations nominated and strongly encourages additional interested members to come forward. Their goal is to reach 200 members.
10 Squared Women members are encouraged to talk to their friends, neighbors, and family about the group, and to share the group within their social circles. Members are not required to attend meetings, however, for their vote to count, must attend the live meeting or virtually. All members are expected to write their donation checks whether they can attend the meeting and vote or not. Attending the meetings virtually via Zoom in order to vote has been an alternative option for those who cannot attend in person. The Zoom option has been well received to help those with young children, those who may winter in warmer weather or who cannot attend live for other reasons to attend and vote.
To learn how to get involved, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/10squaredwomengc or email them at 10squaredgc@gmail.com.