Training keeps McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority staff at the ready

Keeping up training and morale are part of the vibe at McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority.

Employees had the idea to convert an unused office space at the authority’s main station on Grubbs Road into what looks like the interior of an ambulance cabin.

The office is about the size of an ambulance’s rear cabin where patients are treated, said ambulance authority Chief Christopher Dell. Employees removed the interior components, such as the stretcher, chair and all medical equipment, from an ambulance that was out of commission and reinstalled them in the office.

Now, staff can train there for emergency medicine scenarios using a mannequin, which is especially helpful when assessing a new or prospective employee’s skills, said MFPAA Capt. Norm Prycl.

“It gives us a good idea of the skill level and level of work we have to train them,” said Prycl, of Zelienople.

In February alone, employees completed 144 hours of training.

Anyone driving past the Grubbs station will see a trailer sitting outside courtesy of EMS West and UPMC. It contains the EMS Virtual Drive Emergency Driving Simulator, which is on loan until April.

The trailer contains two high-end simulators, each modeled like the driver’s seat of an ambulance, consisting of lights, sirens, seatbelts, mirrors and driving controls.

Here, an emergency vehicle operator can practice driving an ambulance. Various real-life driving scenarios are simulated on a big screen, such as sudden stops, a child running into the street, or safe intersection driving.

Paramedic Anna Meyer and Emergency Medical Technician Patrick Hansen, who both practiced on the simulator recently, consider it a good training tool, especially in learning to react to other drivers who don’t pull over to a full stop as required by the law. Or don’t stop at all.

“It happens a lot more than you think,” Hansen said.

EMT Andrew Ferrante, of McCandless, said drivers often receive extra training, such as recently with self-contained breathing devices commonly used by emergency personnel.

“We have really good people working with us. I’ve gotten lots of experience working here. There are lots of things here that I wouldn’t see at other places,” Ferrante said.

Opportunities exist for professional development with continuing education credits, Meyer said.

“I’ve been here three years. I really enjoyed working here,” said Meyers, adding that employees get a lot of support.

The ambulance authority has provided 22 hours of community service so far this year, including hosting cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes for local Boy Scout troops or fire departments.

The University of Pittsburgh and UPMC is using the Grubbs Road location to provide in-person training through the Center for Emergency Medicine for employees of local emergency medical services. Dell said the MFPAA hopes to have classes there on a recurring basis, but nothing has been finalized.

Employees are what makes MFPAA run smoothly, ambulance authority board member Marcia Caliendo said. Paramedic Michelle Schooner, hired in January 2022, served in the U.S. Army as a combat medic.

“We just have a really good crew. Any first responders are unsung heroes,” Caliendo said.