FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OCTOBER 7, 2015
CONTACT: Catherine Abbott - (760) 245-4271 ext. 2146; catherine.abbott@vvc.edu
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians supports life-saving training programs at Victor Valley College
Victor Valley College Foundation receives $107,362 grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to purchase equipment for Emergency Medical Services Program.
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians recently granted $107,362 to the Victor Valley College Foundation to help enhance emergency responder training provided at the Victor Valley College Regional Public Safety Training Center.
Thanks to San Manuel’s generous grant to the continuation of the Emergency Careers Ladder’s Project, students enrolled in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program will now have five Electrocardiogram (EKG) monitors; an EKG monitor has proven to be a landmark addition to the EMS toolkit as the critical diagnostic aid to provide care in the field and to guide transport to the most appropriate hospital for acute heart conditions.
“San Manuel has been an integral partner in outfitting our public safety programs. The Tribe’s generosity has continually provided innovative technology and equipment to our students,” said Dave Oleson, Director of VVC’s Emergency Medical Services Program. “The EKG monitors will allow students to train and obtain this necessary diagnostic skill. This training will critically improve our ability to prepare students to be successful first responders.”
The EMS program serves more than 200 students annually and the EKG monitors will allow students to identify a variety of other heart problems, rhythm abnormalities and cardiac injuries, and serve as the basis for updating EMS protocols to improve the care of patients suffering many types of acute cardiac events. Thanks to San Manuel’s generous gift students can now learn this important skill.
“Through this gift San Manuel is investing in the next generation of first responders to more effectively safeguard lives in San Bernardino County,” said San Manuel Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena. “As a Native Serrano people whose aboriginal lands include the High Desert we are pleased to work with Victor Valley College to benefit multiple communities throughout these lands we hold as sacred.”
Victor Valley College Regional Public Safety Training Center is a $31.5 million, state-of-the-art training complex specifically designed to support students in the Administration of Justice, Fire Technology, Emergency Medical Services and Correction programs. It provides students a unique and far reaching training opportunity for cooperative emergency scenario cross-training exercises experienced by first responders every day in the normal course of the job.
For more information about Victor Valley College and the programs available at the Regional Public Safety Training Center, visit www.vvc.edu. To learn about the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, visit www.sanmanuel-nsn.gov.
The Victor Valley College Foundation is a charitable organization that makes friends and raises funds to help Victor Valley College better serve its students and community. Visit www.vvcfoundation.com or find us on Facebook to join the growing number of people and organizations who contribute to support our mission