The Institute of Medical Emergency Preparedness (IMEP), headed-up by Chris Rothman, DDS and John Roberson, DMD, has launched a practical new emergency response system to remedy the lack of training, and medical emergency preparedness that currently exists in America’s dental offices and most workplaces. The distinctive – Red E brand - is the universal icon of the IMEP’s system and products.
Red E was created by dentists, to train dentists, their staff and ordinary citizens, enabling them to respond calmly, quickly and confidently to emergency and crisis situations. It is an ideal solution for dental offices, schools, hospitals, public facilities and all workplaces.
A recent article in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), vol. 135, November 2004, cites the importance of basic emergency preparedness: “Fairly basic planning, involving minimum equipment and supplies, may go a long way to protect dental staff members patients and families.”
Americans today have an unprecedented need to develop the skills and abilities necessary to calmly and confidently contend with emergency situations. We also have a heightened national awareness of the need for Professional First Responders. Yet, in the case of conventional terrorist or biomedical attacks, many of these Professional First Responders may also become the very first victims.
IMEP recognizes that the average citizen needs to be trained and prepared to be the “very first first responder”, when common medical emergencies occur or in times of natural emergencies (blizzards, tornadoes, or hurricanes). This is important because EMS/911 response times average over 9 minutes in many urban centers and over 15 minutes in rural areas.
An investigation done by USA Today on studies in the New England Journal of Medicine found that in situations involving cardiac arrest, 9 minutes was too long and that lives are lost or saved within 6 minutes.
The investigation also revealed that The Mayo Clinic found emergency treatment must be delivered in the first 6 minutes of an incident involving cardiac arrest for lives to be saved. OSHA says treatment of a serious injury should begin within 3 to 4 minutes of an accident.
The Red E system is practical, easy-to-understand and highly functional, since it can quickly be taken directly to the site of the emergency and to the affected person(s). It can also be used in situations where power outages render Internet medical information systems inoperable.
“Calling 911 and waiting for help isn’t enough,” states Dr. John Roberson, CEO and co-founder of IMEP. “It’s all about speed and taking correct action in the Red E Zone when the victim is 10 Minutes To Life or Death – that can make the critical difference. But, to be efficient and effective during an emergency, you have to be properly educated, trained and prepared to act.”
The Red E Mission is to become the universal standard for meeting every day medical emergencies in the school, workplace and home. The Red E System consists of a comprehensive training CD, training manuals in Medical and Workplace Editions, and a Red E Emergency Action Guide – designed to be used right at the site of the incident.
The Red E Emergency Action Guide contains easy-to-follow, step-by-step, doctor created treatment protocols that will enable dental staff and ordinary people who are trained by Red E address 12 common medical emergencies in that critical time window before the EMS/911 services can arrive.
Just as a fire extinguisher can buy time or help contain a fire until the fire truck arrives, the Red E Emergency Action Guide can help stabilize and treat a victim during that very critical period when you or a loved one may be may be just 10 Minutes from Life or Death.
IMEP is headquartered in Hattiesburg, Mississippi with offices in Birmingham, Alabama and sales and distribution in St. Louis, Missouri.