New Explorer Program Offered in EMS

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Update: The threat of snow (that never showed) on Wednesday postponed the first meeting of the new EMS Explorer program to Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Youth Center.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A new Explorer program will offer teens the chance to learn about careers in emergency medical services in the new EMS Post 911.

Village Ambulance Service has been chartered for a new Emergency Medical Services Youth Explorer Program. The program is through the Boy Scouts of America's Learning for Life foundation and is for both boys and girls ages 14 to 20 who have completed eighth grade.

The first meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 6 p.m. at the Williamstown Youth Center on Cole Avenue. It is important that both a parent and the prospective Explorer attend.

The meeting will include a review of what is expected from both the Explorer and the program and enrollment. All applicants will require a parent or guardian signature.

Through this program, teens will have the chance to learn different aspects of emergency medical services, including blood-borne pathogens, hazardous materials awareness, splinting, oxygen administration, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, stroke awareness, heart-disease awareness, radio operations and a variety of other topics.

"The EMS Explorer program provides the opportunity to engage young people in public safety–type activities with hopes of stimulating future career interest in emergency medical services," said Rich Haskins, the post's lead adviser.

The Explorer Program is a worksite-based career education program with the purpose of providing experiences that help young people mature and prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. The Explorer Program is based on a developing relationships between youth and the organizations in their communities and is based on five areas of emphasis: career opportunities, life skills, citizenship, character education and leadership experience.

The ambulance service's goal is to help these same young adults become responsible, caring, and productive adults who may one day be the face of area emergency medical services.

For more information, contact Village Ambulance Service at 413-458-4889.
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BHS' New North County Urgent Care Center Opens Tuesday

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff

There is a waiting area and reception desk to the right of the Williamstown Medical entrance. 
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Staff and contractors were completing the final touches on Monday to prepare for the opening of Berkshire Health System's new urgent care center. 
 
Robert Shearer, administrative director of urgent care, said the work would be done in time for Berkshire Health Urgent Care North to open Tuesday at 11 a.m. in a wing of Williamstown Medical on Adams Road.  
 
The urgent care center will occupy a suite of rooms off the right side of the entry, with two treatment rooms, offices, amenities, and X-ray room. 
 
"This is a test of the need in the community, the want in the community, to see just how much we need," said Shearer. "One thing that I think Berkshire Health Systems has always been really good at is kind of gauging the need and growing based on what the community tells us. 
 
"And so if we on day one and two and three, find that we're filling this up and maybe exceeding the capacity of the two exam rooms and one provider, then we look to expand it."
 
Hours will be weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends from 8 to noon, but the expectation is that the center will "expand those hours pretty quick."
 
BHS has two urgent care centers in Lenox and in Pittsfield. The health system had tried a walk-in center at Williamstown nearly a decade ago but shuttered over low volume of patients. 
 
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