Members of the Austrian Red Cross and the National Emergency Center of Slovakia had the opportunity to shadow the Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services team during their visit to Chattanooga.
"While all emergency medical services provide quality care and basically the same services for their community, this opportunity provided both the Hamilton County team and the members from Austria and Slovakia a time to share information,” said HCEMS Director Ken Wilkerson.
Two members of the Austrian Red Cross Burgenland, Mario Promintzer and Sandra Nestlinger, and two members of the National Emergency Center of Slovakia, Michal Derzak and Miriam Hyllova, toured the 911 Center, Erlanger Life Force, Emergency Operations Center, spoke in front of the Chattanooga City Council, met with city of Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke and attended a Board of Directors meeting of the American Red Cross SETN. They concluded their week working with HCEMS administration, paramedic supervisors and field EMS crews.
The purpose of their visit was to learn more about the American Red Cross of Southeast Tennessee and Emergency Services in the community. They work in both of these services as paramedics and as emergency dispatchers in their respective countries.
Julia Wright with the American Red Cross SETN served as an ambassador for the Austrian and Slovakia visitors and worked in conjunction with Bryan College to make this visit possible.
“This is a rare opportunity,” said Director Wilkerson. “I know we have a better understanding of the emergency services in both Austria and Slovakia, and I feel our visitors have a better understanding of how our service operates in our community. Overall, this has been a great experience and this sharing of information, improving emergency medical services locally and internationally, is invaluable.”