IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY DIALNational EMS Week
National Emergency Medical Services Week has been designated as May 21 – 27, 2023, to celebrate the paramedics, emergency medical technicians, dispatchers, and others who provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
This year’s national campaign theme, ‘Where Emergency Care Begins,’ reminds the public of EMS’s most important mission of responding appropriately to those who fall victim to sudden illness or injury and providing critical interventions in the field to save lives and improve outcomes.
“Medical emergencies generally don’t get put on hold or occur during “regular business hours,” said Lavonne C. Hall, president, and CEO of Hall Ambulance. “That’s why every component of Kern County’s EMS system operates 24/7, 365 days a year, with specially trained personnel ready to respond to those suffering from sudden illness or injury.” That is why having a week dedicated to EMS workers is so meaningful. “Once a year, we like to take a symbolic pause in honor of National Emergency Medical Services Week to celebrate the members of our local emergency medical services system who come together for every single 9-1-1 request for medical aid,” Hall said.
Locally, Hall Ambulance is celebrating with several employee events to thank the paramedics, EMTs, CCT RNs, dispatchers, and support personnel whose involvement comes in before, during, or after the request for medical aid.
- EMS Week Family Picnic: Employees and family members will enjoy a BBQ lunch, games, and prize giveaways.
- EMS Week Gift Bags: Over the week, Hall Ambulance’s nearly 500 employees will receive appreciation bags filled with fun Hall Ambulance-branded items for their enjoyment.
- Founder’s Awards: This signature event will honor each division’s employee of the year, including paramedic, EMT, RN, and dispatcher. In addition, the recipients of the Founder’s Award for Management Excellence, and Hall Ambulance’s highest award, the President’s Award for Customer Service, will be announced.
MORE ABOUT EMS WEEK
May 21-27, 2023, is the 49th annual National EMS Week. In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in our nation’s communities.
NAEMT partners with the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) to lead annual EMS Week activities. Together, NAEMT and ACEP are working to ensure that the important contributions of EMS practitioners in safeguarding the health, safety and well-being of their communities are fully celebrated and recognized.
Strides4CJD – Bakersfield Oct. 15
Now in its sixth year, Strides for CJD – Bakersfield has been selected as the CJD Foundation’s regional event for central and southern California families,
friends, and community members who would like to walk in honor or memory of a loved one affected by Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).
CJD is a rare neurodegenerative disease that has no treatment or cure. Proceeds benefit the CJD Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, to provide family support, medical education, and research programs.
This year’s event will take place on Sunday, October 15, on the campus of California State University Bakersfield at the Harvey L. Hall Family Plaza, 9001 Stockdale Highway. Hall served four terms as the city of Bakersfield’s 25th mayor and was a respected pioneer of emergency medical services. He lost his battle with the sporadic form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in May 2018, just two weeks and seven hours following diagnosis.
Onsite registration opens at 9 a.m., and the leisure walk through the CSUB campus begins at 10 a.m. Additional activities are being planned and will be announced on the event’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Strides4CJDBakersfield.
Participants can register online by clicking on the Bakersfield event at www.strides4cjd.com, and walk as individuals or create or join a team named in tribute to a loved one affected by CJD. The early bird rate for an adult walker is $30 and $20 for youths through September 14. Those who register by August 23 will receive a free event t-shirt.
Strides for CJD – B
akersfield is seeking corporate sponsorships for its 2023 event, ranging from $250 to $20,000 for premier-level support. Hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and corporations should contact Mark Corum, co-captain at bakersfieldstrides@outlook.com, before July 30 to discuss and enjoy full sponsorship benefits.
While CJD affects one in a million, you are not alone! Coming together with others who are going or have gone through the progression of the disease with a friend or family member can bring a sense of comfort, togetherness, and healing.
Strides for CJD – Bakersfield is one of 22 events held in cities across the United States during the first two weekends of October. Funds raised through Strides for CJD have positively impacted the CJD Foundation’s ability to provide and support the following programs.
Helpline and Support Groups: Helping families navigate their first days or weeks of diagnosis and caregiving.
Medical Education: Connecting with medical education departments of hospitals around the US to offer medical lectures from CJD experts about diagnosis, caregiving, and other vital information.
Advocacy: One of the best ways to help advance prion disease research is to ensure that legislators are educated about prion disease/CJD, its impact on patient families, and what’s needed to study the disease and move towards a cure. The CJD Foundation has been working harder than ever to amplify the voices of patients and caregivers in Washington, DC, and to advocate for increased funding for CJD surveillance and
research.
Research Grants: To date, the CJD Foundation has awarded 77 grants, totaling more than $4 million, to help support scientists who study prion disease. This year, for the first time, the CJD Foundation awarded a fellowship to an emerging scientist, in addition to awarding seven research grants.
ABOUT CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE
According to the California Department of Public Health, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is a rare disease of the brain and nervous system in humans that is part of a group called prion diseases. In these diseases, prions (proteins that are naturally found in the body) change shape, build up in the brain, and destroy brain and nerve tissue, causing nervous system disorders. These disorders include rapid onset dementia, personality changes, memory problems, impaired vision, difficulty walking, moving, and speaking, all of which worsen over time and ultimately lead to death. There are different types of CJD based on how the disease is caused.
California had 221 new CJD cases from 2013 to 2019, with 25 to 36 cases reported yearly. Of these cases, 172 (78%) were reported to have died with CJD.
About 1 out of every 3 cases were reported in Los Angeles County (40 cases) and San Diego County (37 cases).
A confirmed diagnosis can only be completed by examining brain tissue during an autopsy. There is no cure for CJD, and treatment is provided only to assist with ma
naging symptoms and to make the CJD patient more comfortable.
ABOUT THE CJD FOUNDATION
The CJD Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports families affected by prion disease. Programs include research grants, a seven-day HelpLine, family support groups, medical education, and an annual conference for families and scientists. For more information, call 800-659-1991, visit www.CJDFoundation.org, or email help@cjdfoundation.org
Founder’s Day Feb. 10th
Friday, February 10, marks the 52nd Anniversary of Hall Ambulance Service, Inc., celebrated by the Company as Founder’s Day.
The prologue leading to the Hall Ambulance story began in 1960 when Harvey L. Hall was working as an orderly at Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield. He ran into a friend working as an ambulance attendant who dared Hall to go on a ride along with him, citing they would have a good time running around with the red lights, sirens, and all that stuff.
In a 1991 article in The Bakersfield Californian, Mr. Hall reflected on that moment that would pave the way for a 58-year career in pre-hospital care. “I took him up on his dare,” Hall recalled. “To my surprise, the next morning, his boss called and asked me if I enjoyed the ride. I confessed that I had. He offered me a job. That’s what I have been doing ever since. That was September 1960.”
With 11 years of experience under his belt, Mr. Hall had developed a vision for the type of ambulance company he desired to build based on his ideals of care, compassion, and community. “I really felt there were things that could be done differently in this business. I wanted to create a company that could be more service-oriented, a company that would become an important part of the community,” he said.
On February 10, 1971, with a $15,000 bank loan, two ambulances, and a lot of enthusiasm, Hall Ambulance Service began answering the call from his residence, located at 1307 S. H Street serving as headquarters.
Under his tenure, referred to as the Founder’s Era (1971-2018), Mr. Hall grew his business based on building relationships with the local hospitals, public safety agencies, communities, and customers served (Mr. Hall didn’t call them patients). He was an innovator, always at the forefront of defining standards in patient care, including the implementation of paramedics in February 1975.
In 2018, Mr. Hall became ill, and just two weeks and seven hours after being diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, his battle came to an end on May 19. His impact as a pioneer in pre-hospital care carries on. In 2020, the National EMS Museum and the California Ambulance Association named Harvey L. Hall as one of 17 native Californians responsible for shaping EMS in the United States.
In celebration of Founder’s Day, a handout was created providing an abbreviated biography of Harvey L. Hall and the Ambulance Company he Built. The document can be downloaded here. Founders Day Abbreviated Biography Final
Hall EMT Academy Recruitment
Hall Ambulance has opened recruitment for Class 44 of the Hall EMT Academy, starting on May 16, 2023. The program prepares individuals in under ten weeks to start working in the Hall Ambulance 9-1-1 system as an emergency medical technician (EMT).
An EMT works on the front lin
e of emergency medical services as a first responder, assisting with patient care and providing safe transport to the hospital.
Training takes place Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., at the Harvey L. Hall EMS Academy, a state-of-the-art training facility. Weekly lectures are supplemented with hands-on skills, assessment training, quizzes, and exams that allow you to test your knowledge.
There is no cost for the recruits; plus, they receive a training wage while completing the program. Upon successful completion, Hall EMT Academy graduates start their new careers earning $43,825.60/year. In addition, employees receive a benefits plan including medical, dental, vision, life, flex spending, long-term disability, and 401(k), preparing them for retirement.
Established in 2001, The Hall EMT Academy has helped hundreds of individuals start their careers in emergency medical services. Several alumni have advanced, becoming paramedics, field supervisors, and management team members.
The Company provides a tremendous career path for those EMTs wanting to progress their career by applying for sponsorship into the Hall Paramedic Academy. New paramedics start at $65,000/year, plus benefits.
The minimum qualifications to apply for the Hall EMT Academy include: a high school diploma or GED completed, a valid driver’s license, at least 20 years of age by the time training starts, and a driving record insurable by Hall Ambulance Service’s insurance provider.
You must be available and willing to work all assigned shifts – nights and weekends included and be able to lift objects weighing up to 75 pounds.
For more information on the Hall EMT Academy, go to www.hallambcareers.com/emtacademy. The deadline to apply is March 24, 2023.
Lights & Sirens Invitational April 10
The tournament committee has set a date for the 13th annual Harvey L. Hall Lights & Sirens Memorial Invitational, benefiting Kern County burn survivors and their families. This year’s event returns to the Stockdale Country Club on Monday, April 10, with registration opening at 10 a.m., a catered lunch at 11 a.m., and a shotgun scramble at noon.
The Lights & Sirens Invitational was established in 2008 when Harvey L. Hall identified the need that burn survivors and their families required a commitment of long-term care and special assistance while on their road to recovery.
Since then, more than a half-million dollars has been raised to support these needs through the generous support of our local public safety, EMS, and business community partners. Tournament proceeds are distributed between the two local organizations dedicated to assisting burn survivors. The Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation uses the funds to provide burn survivor & family support, burn care professional assistance, and burn prevention education. The Kern County Firefighters Burn Survivor Trust uses the funds to provide burn camp sponsorships, regional burn center support, and survivor scholarship awards.
Individual golfers can register for $200, while team foursomes are available for $800. The committee is also seeking tournament sponsors with a deadline of March 20 to maximize sponsor benefits. Download the player registration and sponsorship brochure here.
Harvey L. Hall Memorial Highway
This morning, a dedication took place for a portion of the Westside Parkway, named the Harvey L. Hall Memorial Highway, in honor of Bakersfield’s longest-serving mayor and founder of Hall Ambulance Service, Inc. The stretch of roadway will run between the Coffee Road off-ramp, heading west, and the on-ramp at Allen Road, heading east.Hall EMT Academy Recruitment
Hall Ambulance has opened recruitment for Class 42 of the Hall EMT Academy, starting on September 20. The program prepares individuals in under ten weeks to start working in the Hall Ambulance 9-1-1 system as an emergency medical technician (EMT).
An EMT works on the front line of emergency medical services as a first responder, assisting with patient care and providing safe transport to the hospital.
Training takes place Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Harvey L. Hall EMS Academy, a state-of-the-art training facility. Weekly lectures are supplemented with hands-on skills, assessment training, quizzes, and exams that allow you to test your knowledge.
There is no cost for the recruits; plus, they receive a training wage while completing the program. Upon successful completion, Hall EMT Academy graduates start their new career earning $41,000/year. In addition, employees receive a benefits plan including medical, dental, vision, life, flex spending, long-term disability, and 401(k), preparing them for retirement.
Established in 2001, The Hall EMT Academy has helped hundreds of individuals start their careers in emergency medical services. Today, several alumni have advanced, becoming paramedics, field supervisors, and even management team members.
The Company provides a tremendous career path for those EMTs wanting to progress their career by applying for sponsorship into the Hall Paramedic Academy. New paramedics increase their wages to $61,000/year, plus benefits.
The minimum qualifications to apply for the Hall EMT Academy include: a high school diploma or GED completed, a valid driver’s license, at least 20 years of age by the time training starts, and a driving record insurable by Hall Ambulance Service’s insurance provider.
You must be available and willing to work all assigned shifts – nights and weekends included and be able to lift objects weighing up to 75 pounds.
For more information on the Hall EMT Academy, go to www.hallambcareers.com/emtacademy. The deadline to apply is July 15, 2022.
Hall Ambulance Memorial
On April 12, President & CEO Lavonne C. Hall unveiled the new Hall Ambulance Memorial, a half a block west of the intersection of at 21st & O Streets in Bakersfield, California.
Whether their passing occurred while on duty or away from work, Hall Ambulance has felt a desire to honor their life and work contributions by placing a marker with their name in the Hall Ambulance Memorial Garden. It served as a place for quiet reflection and remembrance of the fallen for many years.
As the Company approached its 50th Anniversary last year, plans were made to renovate the memorial to pay proper tribute to past and future employees.
The design of the new Hall Ambulance Memorial is grand in scope, made of blue pearl granite and stone, and will serve as a fitting tribute to all. The cornerstone feature is a St. Bernard water fountain placed in the Memorial Garden following the passing of Founder Harvey L. Hall in 2018.
Attending the unveiling ceremony were Hall Ambulance employees and leadership, along with family members of those whose names have been inscribed on the new memorial. COO John Surface welcomed the gathering while Tom Touchstone, Pastor of 911 at Ease Kern County, delivered touching remarks and prayer.
The Hall Ambulance Memorial project team consisted of Mark Corum (design), Terry Adams (architectural plans and construction manager), Scott Benskin and Ricky Hammersley (construction), and Bell Memorials (granite and bronze lettering).
The Hall Ambulance Memorial will serve as a fitting tribute for generations of Hall Ambulance Employees to come.
Fallen employees whose names are inscribed on the Hall Ambulance Memorial:
Sandy Newby
Dispatcher
05/04/1956 – 06/08/1981
Tom J. Hvizdos, EMT I
Assistant Operations Manager
08/18/1956 – 01/28/1988
Kenneth Johnson
Medi-Van Driver
11/10/48 – 07/20/2002
Edwin W. Bauder
Paramedic Intern
02/01/1964 – 06/25/2003
Andrew Joseph Green
Paramedic Field Supervisor
05/02/1978 – 05/03/2007
Penny Vest
Paramedic
05/16/1951 – 09/06/2007
Edward Searfoss, EMT-P
Director of Quality Assurance
07/08/1979 – 06/06/2014
Dorothy McGee
Contracts Coordinator,
Business Office
07/09/1950 – 08/20/2016
Lawrence Mundschau
Paramedic
01/14/1961 – 11/25/2017
Harvey L. Hall
Founder
01/05/1941 – 05/19/2018
Breeanna Ledesma
Medical Supply Technician
08/03/1998 – 09/24/2018
Heather Taylor
Paramedic
09/09/1974 – 12/17/2019
Fransue Pratt
Medical Supply Technician
01/08/1976 – 01/14/2021
Eric Calderon
Paramedic
05/08/1984 – 08/04/2021
Trenton Jones
EMT
03/12/1999 – 11/20/2021
Kinesiology Student Moves to Becoming EMT
Are you looking for a healthcare career but not sure where to start? Hall Ambulance is currently recruiting for its next Hall EMT Academy, which prepares individuals to begin working in its 9-1-1 system as an emergency medical technician in eight weeks. Training begins May 10, 2022.
The program is just what J’Nise Evans, a kinesiology student in her last semester of college, was looking for when she applied for and was accepted into Class 38 last summer.
“I realized what really interested me was anatomy and physiology of the body and how it works,” she said. “I loved the idea of becoming an EMT because every day would be different and exciting. Rather than working in a hospital or clinic, I get to go out in the community and help people on scene.”
Training took place at the Harvey L. Hall EMS Academy in Bakersfield. Weekly lectures were supplemented with hands-on skills, assessment training, quizzes, and exams that allowed her to test her knowledge in CPR, anatomy/physiology, airway management, respiratory and cardiac, trauma, obstetrics, pediatrics, and geriatric emergencies.
Over four months into her new career, EMT Evans is happy with her decision. “I like working at Hall Ambulance because everyone is super friendly, and there is a lot of opportunity for growth. For example, my goal is to become a paramedic soon, and I can achieve this through the Hall Paramedic Academy!” That program is available to currently employed Hall EMTs who are ready to progress their career. Upon completing the paramedic prep course, they can apply for sponsorship into the paramedic training program. New paramedic graduates increase their starting pay to $61,000 per year, plus overtime opportunities and benefits.
The deadline to apply for the next Hall EMT Academy is March 4. You can begin the process by visiting hallambcareers.com/emtacademy
Only Call 9-1-1 During a Real Emergency
JOINT COMMUNITY MESSAGE
Only Call 911 During a Real Emergency
Bakersfield, CA – January 14, 2022 – Our healthcare and emergency response systems continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kern continues to experience high volumes of 911 calls and emergency room visits that are taxing our entire emergency response system.
The community can help support our local emergency response and hospital teams by calling 911 and only going to the hospital for life-threatening illnesses. If you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, stroke or other serious health condition, please seek emergency medical care. Hospitals are here to help, however; Kern continues to see an influx of people seeking treatment in our emergency rooms and calling 911 for ailments that could be treated faster by seeking urgent care or scheduling an appointment with your primary care physician.
Please do not call 911 or visit the ER for minor COVID complaints or to get COVID testing. We understand dealing with COVID can be difficult, but we want to ensure our first responders assist emergencies. Kern County Public Health, local hospitals and first responders continue to work together to provide the best care for patients in Kern County.
Please remember this simple prescription: Get vaccinated and boosted, maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly, wear a mask while in indoor public settings, stay home when sick, wash your hands often and gather outside or increase ventilation when indoors. Let’s work together to end this pandemic and get back to life as it should be.
Statements of Support
“Our first responders and healthcare workers are working extremely hard to provide vital emergency medical services to those in need within our community. Our pre-hospital and hospital emergency medical services system continues to be overly taxed. Please do everything you can to preserve these resources for true emergencies. I want to thank Kern County’s hospital, ambulance, and fire department leadership for their collaboration during these unprecedented times and for continuing to ensure our emergency response and healthcare systems remain strong, resilient and able to serve our community.”
Brynn Carrigan, Director of Kern County Public Health
“The current swell of COVID-19 cases, along with record-breaking 9-1-1 requests for medical aid, has created a perfect storm that is taxing Kern County’s emergency response system, including the availability of ambulances. Hall Ambulance joins with Kern County Public Health, local hospitals, and fellow first responders to implore residents to only call 9-1-1 during a real emergency. Ambulance resources are needlessly being taken away from responding to true medical emergencies such as heart attacks and strokes. Non-life-threatening conditions can best be treated at an urgent care, your primary care doctor, or at home via telehealth. It is vitally important that the community do their part to help keep ambulances available by only calling 9-1-1 for a true medical emergency.”
Lavonne C. Hall, President & CEO, Hall Ambulance Service, Inc.
“The latest COVID surge is severely impacting all of our emergency rooms across Kern County. ERs must care for our most critical patients and it’s important the public understand when to come to the emergency room. If you are experiencing serious COVID symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain, or a high fever, get to an emergency room immediately. For mild symptoms, please call your doctor or visit an urgent care. If we all work together, get vaccinated and boosted, wear a mask, and stay home when sick, we will get through this together.”
Ken Keller, President/CEO of Memorial Hospital and
Dr. Hemmal Kothary, Interim President/CEO of Mercy Hospitals
“Your Kern County firefighters and dispatchers have been bravely on the front lines of this pandemic since it began, almost two years ago. As national health authorities continue to become more educated about the COVID virus and its’ variants, our local authorities remain vigilant in making informed decisions as to what will keep our communities safe. As your local emergency responders, we rely on our citizens to understand and adhere to this practice as well. Please take the time to understand when, and when not, to call 911. This seemingly small act could mean the difference between life and death.”
Aaron Duncan, Kern County Fire Chief & Director of Emergency Services
“As the area’s only Trauma Center, Kern Medical’s Emergency Department works to respond to the most emergent cases daily. Throughout much of the pandemic, our patient volume has consistently held at 25% above what would be normal levels. With these higher levels, we continue to urge the public to seek services appropriate to the level of care needed.”
Manish Amin, DO
Kern Medical Emergency Medicine Residency Program Director and Vice Chair of the Emergency Department
