August 13, 2025 • 27 mins
Segment 1: Immunize El Paso-More than just a place to get shots!
Amber Banda interviews Ivan Luna, Director of Immunize El Paso, and Cristina Arevalo, Clinic Administrator, of Immunize El Paso.
.
Did you know Immunize El Paso is a non-profit that has been serving El Paso for over 30 years and offers more than just vaccines? They also offer drug testing, TB testing, pregnancy testing. and more at low to no cost! They'll even go to YOU if you are unable to make it into one of their clinics. They also have mobile vaccines that will go to various locations throughout the city, and if you do decide to go in, you can join their virtual waitlist!
.
For more information and where to find their mobile clinics and nearest location, visit immunizelpaso.org
_________________________________________________________________________________
Segment 2: ProAction, Inc. Emergency Services Institute-So when you see someone faint at the next big concert, most likely these are the guys coming to the rescue!
Amber Banda interviews Michelle Luevano, Director of Education for ProAction Inc.
.
ProAction Inc provides event medical services, CPR and 1st Aid courses and ACLS courses. If you are interested in becoming an EMT, this is the place to go. They also provide employment opportunites after graduation, (which means you can start working AND possibly seeing a really cool concert or event while you're at it)!
.
If you need a CPR/ 1st aid/ ACLS certification for work, both medical and non-medical, or just a mom wanting to know CPR for your kid's safety, this is the place to go. Contact them for pricing, schedules, and more at proactionems.org
Amber Banda interviews Ivan Luna, Director of Immunize El Paso, and Cristina Arevalo, Clinic Administrator, of Immunize El Paso.
.
Did you know Immunize El Paso is a non-profit that has been serving El Paso for over 30 years and offers more than just vaccines? They also offer drug testing, TB testing, pregnancy testing. and more at low to no cost! They'll even go to YOU if you are unable to make it into one of their clinics. They also have mobile vaccines that will go to various locations throughout the city, and if you do decide to go in, you can join their virtual waitlist!
.
For more information and where to find their mobile clinics and nearest location, visit immunizelpaso.org
_________________________________________________________________________________
Segment 2: ProAction, Inc. Emergency Services Institute-So when you see someone faint at the next big concert, most likely these are the guys coming to the rescue!
Amber Banda interviews Michelle Luevano, Director of Education for ProAction Inc.
.
ProAction Inc provides event medical services, CPR and 1st Aid courses and ACLS courses. If you are interested in becoming an EMT, this is the place to go. They also provide employment opportunites after graduation, (which means you can start working AND possibly seeing a really cool concert or event while you're at it)!
.
If you need a CPR/ 1st aid/ ACLS certification for work, both medical and non-medical, or just a mom wanting to know CPR for your kid's safety, this is the place to go. Contact them for pricing, schedules, and more at proactionems.org
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to El Paso Public Forum, a weekly half hour
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio El Paso for over twenty years,
featuring local news and interviews of interest to our listeners
in West Texas and southern New Mexico. All views and
opinions expressed on this program are those of the host
and guest, and not necessarily those of iHeartRadio Management and
now El Paso Public Forum.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Welcome back to the al Paso Public Forum. I am
your host, Amber Banda with iHeart and today we have
two people here from Immunize l Paso. We have Ivan Luna,
Director of Immunized al Paso. Ivan, thank you for being
back with us today.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Thank you very much for that invite. Always a pleasure
to be.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Back, of course. And we have Christina Arevalo, clinic administrator
for Immunized al Paso. Christina, thank you for being back
with us here today too as well.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Well, thank you for having us of course.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
So Immunize al Paso is a nonprofit for those people
that don't know, providing free and low cost immunizations across
the region through clinics and mobile outreach. Now, Ivan, this
is a division of Pro Action, Inc. What is pro
Action Inc.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
That is correct. So pro Action Inc. Is actually the
name of the nonprofit. EM and I is Apasto is
a department.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Oh okay, okay, And.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
You know, very proudly to say that we're turning thirty years.
We actually did in July. It wow, it's time flies.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
I know.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Yeah on air when I mentioned things, I'm still saying July,
I'm like, whoopsgus.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
So thirty years in July. As pro Action, you know,
we started back in nineteen ninety five. And Prouction has
three departments. EM and I Apasto is one of them.
Then the other one is pro Action Training Institute, and
we do EMT certification, blas CPR training. And then the
third department is our medical department, and we do ambulance
(01:48):
standby for events.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
In the community, like when you know, Christapleton comes in
a concert and someone fash that that's okay. So I
did not know that that was a nonprofit that provided
those services. So that's really cool. Thirty years it's nine
years younger than I am. So immunize al Paso again
providing free and low cost immunizations across the region. Clinics
(02:10):
and Mobile Outreach now does Immunize al Passo have a
brick and mortar.
Speaker 5 (02:13):
We go out to communities and we provide services. We
get a lot of people reaching out to us, for example,
school school districts.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
We go.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
We try to go to every school district. Right now,
we're in the back to school season, so the sixth season. Yes,
I know, I know, Yeah, it's starting, it's starting. So yeah,
we do mobile clinics. We get calls from you know,
different private companies as well. Oh really to provide services
for their employees. So yeah, we do all of that.
(02:42):
We're here for the community.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
So there's no brick and mortar. There's not like an
address for Immunized Alpasso. It's just they just do go
on site to places or provide mobile like through event
or how does that work.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
No, we do have two locations.
Speaker 5 (02:56):
We have one at sixty two ninety two Trobitch Drive okay,
and then we have one in the east Side location
at fourteen hundred George Steeters Suite to twenty five okay.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
So then there's multiple ways for people to take advantage
of these free or low cost immunizations. They can go
to those brick and mortar locations or how do they
find out where the UH traveling immunization clinics.
Speaker 5 (03:21):
Will be, we try to post them on our social media, okay,
and also on our website. They can go to our
website or they can always give us a call.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
They can go to our website to www.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
Dot Immunize Lpasso dot org, or they can call us
to nine one five five three three three four one four.
That's our main number, and we can go ahead and
help them there.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Five three three four four one four and.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Three four one four.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I'm sorry three four five three three three four one four, yes, okay,
sorry my bad. So for anyone that needs that number,
of course, you can google immunize l Passo, but that
information will also be available as always on our power No.
Two Sundy, ninety nine point nine and ninety six point
three k Country, Instagram and Facebook. If you want to
know where they're going to be at or can they
(04:07):
call that number or go to that website. If they
want to request for you to come to their workplace
or their.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
School, absolutely they can.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Okay, perfect, So Ivan, I want to ask you back
to school season. You know this is airing. As of
the airing of this show, all kids will be back
to school either you know, for a month or maybe
a couple of weeks. Now, what is the importance of
immunizations around this time?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
It is very important. It's crucial. Think about these a
bunch of kids together, you know, sharing the bugs.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
I know, I have a ten year old going into
fifth grade, a.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Lot of illnesses. The only preventative measure is vaccines. Okay,
think flu for example, There's no way to prevent them.
You can wash your hands, you can do all you want,
but at the end of the day, immunizations will be
or immunization for flu will be the key element to
be fully protected. And not only that it protects you,
but it protects the people around you. So with that
(05:01):
same premise protecting the others because you're vaccinated, you know,
ask how you protect your schoolmates, you know, your teachers
and whatnot. So it is crucial that everyone is protected
before they even go into school.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
So with vaccines, there's a lot of you know, I
believe in them. I don't believe in them. Is there
any myths or anything that you hear people saying like,
oh my god, that's just not you know, being in
this industry where you want to let the listening audience
know like that's not true, or this is maybe a
resource that you can go and educate yourself more on
(05:34):
them and afterward decide where you can still say no,
say yes, but this is something that you might want
to look into.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Correct. There's a lot of misinterpretations from old data from
back in the day. There was a study, I want
to say, in the eighties. Don't quote me on this, moom,
but it's an old one that said that autism came
from vaccine. Yes, that's been debunked. Like it's in the past,
it's old and gone. There's fresh new data that says,
know that there's no correlation there. So it's it's interesting
(06:05):
how nowadays we have a lot of information.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
You know, you know it just literally at our fingertips,
and a lot.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Of it is real information. You go to the CDC,
to go to science journals, go to the real data,
and don't go to TikTok please, I know that's the
wrong information from the wrong sort.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Evan, let me have you put your mic a little
bit closer. That way people can can can hear what
you're saying better. So with immunized outpass, so again with
the free and low cost immunizations. Whoever cares to answer,
how do people know when they go, Okay, this is
what I'm going to pay when they are going to
get these vaccinations.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
So we do work with a TVFC program, which is
the Texas Vaccines for Children's Program, who allow us to
provide vaccines at a lower cost. We do charge ten
dollars for those children who qualify. As far as vaccines needed,
it just depends, you know. We just ask for them
to bring their immunization record with them so we can
(07:05):
evaluate and see what they're missing. We always try to
adminissure everything that they are needing, you know, to send
them back home protect it. If they don't have an
immunization record, we can always look it up on the
state registry. But yeah, it's ten dollars for vaccine for
those children qualify. We also do carry our private stock
for those who do not qualify for the TVFC program.
(07:25):
But yeah, we have everything at ammunis all passo.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
So I mean for those listening that may be wondering,
you you have your baby, you take them to the doctor,
they get their immunization's vaccinations. Are those the same thing? Yes, yes,
oh it's.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
The same thing.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
So you take your baby to get their vaccinations. So
it's not something where you have your baby and then
they get their initial vaccines at immunize al passle. Right
they go to the doctor first or how does that work? Like,
at what point can they transition to getting their vaccinations
at immunizel passo.
Speaker 5 (07:54):
We start vaccinating patients at the age of six weeks. Okay,
so yeah, they can go to us for their two
month old baby vaccines.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Oh okay, okay, that's interesting. And is there any other
other than vaccinations and immunizations for kids? What are the
other vaccinations that are available as they get older that
are maybe not well, none of them are mandatory, right,
but that are maybe a little bit more people tend
to not get them. They choose, you know, yes or no.
(08:23):
Like as they get older.
Speaker 5 (08:24):
We offer the flu vaccine, COVID vaccine, RSV vaccine. It's
you know, it's coming around the corner to the season.
And we also provide other services for example, TB testing,
We do lab work. We see a lot of patients
come into us for lab work. They need tighters you know,
(08:45):
for ranking into the nursing program, whatnot, just to go
into a hospital and.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Work at a hospital.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
We do that and we do the quantifferent which is
a TV test but through the blood. You know, then
it's faster too. Ohug testing drug testing to pregnancy testing too.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yeah, drug testing and pregnancy testing. And when you say
lab work, is it the same kind of lab work
you know that you would get at like QUEST Diagnostic.
Really I did not know that.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
As a matter of fact, we are partnered up with Quests,
so we we draw the blot with the sample and
then we send that out to Quest. Mind you that,
because we're a nonprofit, our prices are definitely, you know,
less than any private company. So we served the community.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
That's wow. I did not know that. And again, if
you're just tuning in, I have Ivan Luna, director of
Immunized al Paso as well as Christina Arevalo, clinic administrator
for Immunized al Pasos. So you do the immunizations up
since two months, you do the testing, you do drug testing,
you do. I don't know you guys did all that.
(09:48):
You do the pregnancy testing. So where can people find
all of this information? Where would be the best place
to look?
Speaker 3 (09:55):
The starting point will be our web page, Okay www.
Immunized Alpasso dot org or argue us a call and
then mister Leo, who's a receptionist. You know, he's always happy,
you know and answering the phone. So nine one five
five three three three four one four or visit us.
We got two locations. It's fourteen hundred George Theater and
then our central location which is sixty two ninety two
(10:16):
throw Brick.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
And what are the hours?
Speaker 3 (10:18):
We are Monday through Friday eight to five. And then
our eatside location, the one on fourteen hundred George Theater.
We're open on Saturdays from nine to twelve.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Okay, perfect. And when I went online to immunize Olpasso
dot org, I saw a join waitlist. So can people
go on there if they you know, just want to
sign up and then go go later or how does
that work?
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Yes, they can. We do that wait list.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
They're at the clinics as well, So if you're already
getting to the clinic, you know, you can go ahead
and join the wait list. We do recommend for you
to join the wait list. We don't recommend to join
the wait list to foreign advance. But yeah, if you're
getting you're getting closer to the clinic, go ahead and
join the wait list, and that way you're already on
the list. You know, we're back to school in full
effect right now. We are seeing a lot of patients.
(11:05):
But yeah, we try to get patients in and out.
So yeah, when you.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Join the wait list, when you're there or getting to
the clinic, is it online? Is that the same one
that you're talking about? Yes, okay. And then do they
like text you or call you when it's your turn? Yes,
we send a text message. Oh perfect. Yeah, that's that's
the way now, especially with restaurants and you know, everything
being so busy online. I also saw that people can donate.
I'm assuming monetary donations. If they do decide to donate,
(11:34):
where do those funds go? What happens with those funds?
Speaker 3 (11:36):
We use funds for many different things. Let me give
you an example. We have a program that we call
it Flu to you.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
That is a program where we can send our staff
to vaccinate people at home. And this is for individuals
with mobility issues. It started with elderly and with flu only,
and then it grew up to be all kinds of
vaccines to anyone that has mobility issues. So being donations,
you know, got us yes, vehicles, you know whatnot technology
(12:04):
the employee in a nonprofit h you know, we're very
happy to say that we just started working with a
new electronic health record. Back in the day used to
be all by hand, you know, counting vaccines with little sticks. Yeah,
we have a system. All good investment in alle of
that takes you know, funds. So we're very thankful for
our donors and we're always welcoming new donors.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Perfect, and so we have we do have a few
more minutes. I'll start with you first, Christina, Is there
anything else that you would like to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
Just get vaccinated. Get vaccinated. Remember, if we get vaccinated,
we protect those who cannot get vaccinated due to any
you know, health issues. So let's let's be a good
community and get protected.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
And I'm assuming that on immunizelpassl dot org there's maybe
some resources in case someone's concerned about getting a vaccine
or what is this vaccine? Do I need this vaccine?
At what age? Do I need this vaccine? That information
will be on that website.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
Yes, there's information on our website. However, you can always
call us. We can give you that information or the
CDC is a good guide as well.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Okay, the CDC perfect and ivan. Is there anything else
that you would like to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Yes, to invite everything, everyone to get vaccinated during the
upcoming respiratory illness season. What is that, Well, it used
to be flu season. Now we're calling it respiratory illness
season because it includes more than flu, RSV, pneumonia, flu covid.
So it's a little bit of everything. Get vaccinated. You know,
I'm very impressed. I used to work in urgent care
(13:35):
and I used to see RSV as an illness and
it's bad, it's scary. So when I come to work
on the vaccine world and I see that there is
an RSV vaccine, I'm like, people get it, you know, Yeah, vaccinated,
protect yourself, don't get sick the fall, the winter's coming
and to get more sick. So just get protected.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
So that RSV vaccine. So my daughter got very sick
this past February. She they couldn't diagnose her. She had anemonia,
she had bronchitis, she had asthma, she had rs VP,
and it was it was very scary. Now this RSV vaccine,
is it kind of like a blanket for just like
to make your lun stronger, or how does that work?
Like is it specifically pneumonia, specifically bronchitis, or how does
(14:18):
this vaccine work?
Speaker 6 (14:19):
Well?
Speaker 3 (14:19):
RSV in its own, it's a virus. It's different from pneumonia.
It's okay from bronchitis, but it's it's in the same
world of respiratory Okay, sickness, and r vaccine will protect
you for that.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
I wish there was another one for bronchitis for example. Yeah,
so there's one for RSV, so get it. It's a
one time thing. Okay, it'll get your protected. You want
to talk about the.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
Ages, Yes, so RSV is sixty five and older, and
we do have we do carry vaccine two for children.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Okay, for babies. Okay, so my daughter's ten, she would
she be.
Speaker 5 (14:57):
No, she wouldn't be part of that agent. It's okay
because OURSV is seen. Unfortunately, you know, there are some
kids who do get it at different ages, but it's
studies show that it's more common in babies.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Ah. So yeah, there is the vulnerable populations for us. Okay,
all right, Well, thank you both for being here with
me today. Thank you for this important information and thank
you for what you do and we hope to have
you back on soon.
Speaker 5 (15:21):
Thank you, thank you for having us.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Welcome to the al Paso Public Forum. I am your host,
Amberbanda and right now we have Michelle Webano, director of
Education for pro Action, Inc. Emergency Services Institute. Michelle, thank
you for being here with me today.
Speaker 6 (15:42):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Of course, so pro Action, I actually just had immunized
al Paso on the show. That is one of the
I guess uh services that's offered under the umbrella of
pro Action. Correct, yes, okay, So pro Action what we're
going to focus on today or the services you provide,
which is event medical services, CPR and first aid courses.
(16:03):
Becoming an EMT. What is that encompass everything or is
there more to add?
Speaker 6 (16:07):
We have a couple of specialty courses called ACLS that's
part of like first the CPR and first aid training
as well, but for the most part it's EMT, CPR,
first aid and we do the medical event services.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
So like when we're at a concert Luke Bryan comes
to town and people are feigning it's gonna be a
Proaction that's taken them on the stretcher. Yes it is. Okay,
so it's proaction. The only ones that if there's a
concert that comes, it's only production that you'll see are
other different organizations.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
I haven't experienced or heard any recently. There was a
couple of them few years back, but I haven't seen
any others.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Okay, So the more likely it is proaction inc Now,
I in my head when I see these medical services,
I'm thinking, okay, someone you know, because this is a nonprofit.
So it's actually a nonprofit that's providing these medical services
to the community. Correct, Yes, okay, So for the event
medical service or people that want to become an EMT,
(17:02):
they want to learn CPR, first aid, ACLS, how do
they go about applying for these services?
Speaker 6 (17:09):
So if they want to become an EMT, then they
can go ahead and apply either directly to our website
or they can come in directly to our facility. We
usually ask them to come in so we can go
ahead and give them a tour of the facility so
they can.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Get to know the staff, get.
Speaker 6 (17:25):
To see again the facility, our classrooms, our skills room,
and all that good stuff. After then we usually make
a registration appointment for them so then we can go
ahead and start the process on getting them all the
documents that we need from them, their registration packets and
all that good stuff.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
So if someone wants to be an EMT, do they
need any like prerequisites, any previous college courses or anything
like that. Really No, we have.
Speaker 6 (17:49):
Kids coming straight off from high school and then we
have those that are you know, they want a change
of career like later on in life, So there's no
prerequisites for it.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Is there an age limit? I'm thirty nine if I
wanted to becoming really okay, that's awesome. And since it
is a nonprofit do they get is it just like
a university? Do they pay university fees or how does
that work?
Speaker 4 (18:09):
So we have a flat rate.
Speaker 6 (18:11):
It's a three thousand dollars tuition rate and it's all inclusive,
so they don't need to buy books, they don't need
to get they don't need to go outside for anything.
The only thing that they would have to get are
their boots and their pants, but we provide their uniform
polo they're tiders, which is some bloodwork that they need
to get in order to join the program, as well
their TV tests, their flu shot, all of that is included.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
And is that just one semester to become an EMT
or is it three thousand per semester and there's multiple semesters.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
No, it's just one time. It's a one time fee
and the courses run between four and five months long,
depending on the schedule. So we have two different schedules.
We have a morning class that usually runs Monday through Thursday,
eight to twelve, and then we have an evening class
that will run Mondays, Friday, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from
six to ten. The morning class is usually a little
(19:00):
bit shorter due to the extra.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
Day in the week. It makes like a month difference.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
So the evening classes usually are are longer, but.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
You graduate faster. Yes, that's awesome. I had no idea.
That's really cool. So the CPR and first aid courses
in the ACLS do you have to be wanting to do?
Do you have to be on the path to becoming
an EMT to take those or no?
Speaker 6 (19:23):
Right now, these are offered to the public in general.
We have the BLS for healthcare providers, so anybody who's
in the med it's.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
A type of CPR.
Speaker 6 (19:31):
It's for people who are in the medical field, they'll
be the ones who take it. It goes from a CNA,
e MT, Medical assistant, dental assistant, nurse doctor. Anybody with
the medical title can take the BLS. Oh, now, we
have another type of training which is a CPR and
first state.
Speaker 4 (19:49):
That one is a lay.
Speaker 6 (19:50):
Rescuer type of CPR, which is more for the community.
It's trained in a way for people to understand. It
doesn't have medical terms like the BLS and stuff. So
like that you're able to understand it and be able
to practice the skills and all that.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
So with that, do you have it for kids and
adults because I know, like CPR and first aid is
going to be different for kids versus adults. Do you
teach for all ages?
Speaker 6 (20:15):
Yes, So our trainings usually the BLS does go through infant,
child and adults, and so does the HEARTSAER, first aid
and CPR.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
And for the for the community, the one where you're
not medical, the CPR and the first aid. That is
that at cost? Do people pay for that or is
that okay.
Speaker 6 (20:35):
It's seventy five dollars, which it's a combined course the
first aid and CPR including infant, child and adult and
the certification is good for two years.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
And I know there's certain jobs that require that as well.
I believe you know, I did fitness training before I
did radio, So that's a good one to have. And
for people that maybe don't have it as a job
requirement or where it would benefit their workspace, what do
you have to tell the commune, like, Hey, I know
you don't really deal with medical issues, or you don't
deal with a lot of people, but this can help
(21:06):
you at home in this capacity. What do you have
to tell them?
Speaker 6 (21:09):
Unfortunately, most of the emergencies happening at home, okay, So
if there's somebody at home that can initiate the process
of CPR before emergency medical gets there, then they'll have
a higher chance of being saved.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
And how long is that course?
Speaker 4 (21:25):
It's about four hours?
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Oh, it's just one day. For it's one day, okay,
And that I know that it gives it keeps you
certified for a certain amount of time, but that's it.
Speaker 6 (21:33):
The certification is good for two years, and this is
good for teachers, coaches, personal trainers, construction workers like all
of the above. Even I usually always recommend for first
time moms to do it too, you know, it's something
new that we're going into. You never know when something
could happen. So the first day it does go through
(21:55):
environmental emergencies, medical emergencies.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
I would say, like choking. I don't even know if.
Speaker 6 (22:00):
That that, it does include it in there as well.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
And then it's important to keep up with it because
I know at one point there was you know, the
whole padding them on the back, and I think that changed,
you know, as far as dislodging a piece of food
or I don't know what it is anymore, but I
know like there's research that comes and it's you and
you want to stay up to date with how to
help save a live and if you're just joining us,
we have Michelle uevan No, Director of Education for pro Action, Inc.
(22:26):
Emergency Services Institute. They just celebrated thirty years in our
pass so it is a nonprofit now, Michelle, they have
the Event Medical Services SEEPYRN, First Aid Courses ACLS. Becoming
an EMT, Now, are there any other services outside of
that that you want to let the public know about
or elaborate on any of those?
Speaker 6 (22:48):
So not only do we train our future EMTs, we
also provide employment for them. So the medical events services
that we have. Most of them are they were or
students at some point.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Ah, that's I had that. I didn't know how to
phrase the question, but I was going to ask that too.
So it's usually the EMTs that you've been training to
be an event medical for event medical services. It's awesome
and plus they kind of get to see a free concert.
I mean, you know, they got to keep on top
of it. That's kind of a bonus. So if people
wanted to donate, because again this is a nonprofit, this
(23:22):
is for the community, the donations go to the Jill
Field Ems Scholarship Fund. Can you tell us a little
bit more about that scholarship.
Speaker 6 (23:30):
Yes, So this scholarship goes directly to the students. We
know there are students out there who unfortunately don't have
the funds to continue their career, so.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
We have this.
Speaker 6 (23:43):
Fund which helps them. We've donated over thirty five thousand
dollars in scholarships to students who in need, so that's great.
So all the donations that we've got are going directly
to the students.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
And again, the more students graduate, the more students that
are out there to be able to help. You know,
in the community with these medical services. The more people
there are out there that know to do CPR and
first aid, it can save a live You don't want
to think about it, but it could be your loved one.
But that's what you're helping. And for students that maybe
want to apply for this scholarship fund, how can they
go about doing that?
Speaker 6 (24:14):
They can either go to our website at proactionems dot
org or they can come straight to our facility at
fourteen hundred George Theater, Sweet to sixty, l Paso, Texas,
sevent nine, nine thirty six.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
And is it Can they apply at any time or
are there times where it's open application?
Speaker 6 (24:30):
No, So we have our classes. We have them open
at the beginning of the year. We open the classes
that we'll have for the rest of the year. Okay,
so as soon as they're open and if they're posted
on our website, you can go ahead and apply for them.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
And the CPR and first aid courses for someone that
wants to take those. Is there the schedule there as
well at proactionems dot org.
Speaker 6 (24:49):
Yes, that one is there, And again we have classes
throughout the whole year and different times as well.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Yeah, for everyone's working schedule. With that, Well, that's awesome
pro action and cal to keep our passos safe. Why
did you get involved into proaction out of curiosity?
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Actually I've been their third of their existence.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
Really, Yes, I started as a receptionist and then I
just started working my way up.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Right, And then have you ever thought about becoming an
EMT or you see what they go through and you're like, nah,
I'm good.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
I actually am EMT trained.
Speaker 6 (25:20):
I did training a few years ago, but then I
was like, I think I'll stay behind the desk.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
I mean it takes a very special individual to do that.
I'm not saying, you know, you're not special or anything
like that, but I like, I love to help people,
but when it comes to that, I'm just so not
level headed. When I see blood or you know, I
you know, there's a mom panicking or someone's choking. I
just and again, it just takes a certain level of
(25:48):
easygoingness maybe to be an EMT. But you know, Michelle,
thank you again for being here with me today, and
again if you want to donate to the jail Field
EMS Scholarship Fund. It's for students from disadvantag communities and backgrounds,
helping to increase access to life saving CPR on first
aid skills in rural communities. Go to proactione ms dot org.
(26:10):
If you want to take the CPR or first aid courses,
you want to become an EMT, you want to take
that ACLS. You need event medical services. So if people
are going to have an event, you know I work
with a lot of event coordinators, they can contact Proaction
if they need medical cure. Of course perfect again proactionems
dot org and of course on power Sonny and k Hey,
(26:33):
we will have this information available to you. So Michelle,
thank you so much for being here with me today.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
You've been listening to El Paso Public Forum, a weekly
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio l Paso. If you, your
organization or event would like to be featured on an
upcoming program, please email to ep Forum at iHeartMedia dot
com or call us at nine one five three five
one five four zero zero. Tune in again next week
(26:59):
for an another additional of El Paso Public Forum. The
preceding program was recorded at the studios of iHeartRadio El
Paso
Welcome to El Paso Public Forum, a weekly half hour
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio El Paso for over twenty years,
featuring local news and interviews of interest to our listeners
in West Texas and southern New Mexico. All views and
opinions expressed on this program are those of the host
and guest, and not necessarily those of iHeartRadio Management and
now El Paso Public Forum.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Welcome back to the al Paso Public Forum. I am
your host, Amber Banda with iHeart and today we have
two people here from Immunize l Paso. We have Ivan Luna,
Director of Immunized al Paso. Ivan, thank you for being
back with us today.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Thank you very much for that invite. Always a pleasure
to be.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Back, of course. And we have Christina Arevalo, clinic administrator
for Immunized al Paso. Christina, thank you for being back
with us here today too as well.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Well, thank you for having us of course.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
So Immunize al Paso is a nonprofit for those people
that don't know, providing free and low cost immunizations across
the region through clinics and mobile outreach. Now, Ivan, this
is a division of Pro Action, Inc. What is pro
Action Inc.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
That is correct. So pro Action Inc. Is actually the
name of the nonprofit. EM and I is Apasto is
a department.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Oh okay, okay, And.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
You know, very proudly to say that we're turning thirty years.
We actually did in July. It wow, it's time flies.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
I know.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Yeah on air when I mentioned things, I'm still saying July,
I'm like, whoopsgus.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
So thirty years in July. As pro Action, you know,
we started back in nineteen ninety five. And Prouction has
three departments. EM and I Apasto is one of them.
Then the other one is pro Action Training Institute, and
we do EMT certification, blas CPR training. And then the
third department is our medical department, and we do ambulance
(01:48):
standby for events.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
In the community, like when you know, Christapleton comes in
a concert and someone fash that that's okay. So I
did not know that that was a nonprofit that provided
those services. So that's really cool. Thirty years it's nine
years younger than I am. So immunize al Paso again
providing free and low cost immunizations across the region. Clinics
(02:10):
and Mobile Outreach now does Immunize al Passo have a
brick and mortar.
Speaker 5 (02:13):
We go out to communities and we provide services. We
get a lot of people reaching out to us, for example,
school school districts.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
We go.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
We try to go to every school district. Right now,
we're in the back to school season, so the sixth season. Yes,
I know, I know, Yeah, it's starting, it's starting. So yeah,
we do mobile clinics. We get calls from you know,
different private companies as well. Oh really to provide services
for their employees. So yeah, we do all of that.
(02:42):
We're here for the community.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
So there's no brick and mortar. There's not like an
address for Immunized Alpasso. It's just they just do go
on site to places or provide mobile like through event
or how does that work.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
No, we do have two locations.
Speaker 5 (02:56):
We have one at sixty two ninety two Trobitch Drive okay,
and then we have one in the east Side location
at fourteen hundred George Steeters Suite to twenty five okay.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
So then there's multiple ways for people to take advantage
of these free or low cost immunizations. They can go
to those brick and mortar locations or how do they
find out where the UH traveling immunization clinics.
Speaker 5 (03:21):
Will be, we try to post them on our social media, okay,
and also on our website. They can go to our
website or they can always give us a call.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
They can go to our website to www.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
Dot Immunize Lpasso dot org, or they can call us
to nine one five five three three three four one four.
That's our main number, and we can go ahead and
help them there.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Five three three four four one four and.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Three four one four.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I'm sorry three four five three three three four one four, yes, okay,
sorry my bad. So for anyone that needs that number,
of course, you can google immunize l Passo, but that
information will also be available as always on our power No.
Two Sundy, ninety nine point nine and ninety six point
three k Country, Instagram and Facebook. If you want to
know where they're going to be at or can they
(04:07):
call that number or go to that website. If they
want to request for you to come to their workplace
or their.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
School, absolutely they can.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Okay, perfect, So Ivan, I want to ask you back
to school season. You know this is airing. As of
the airing of this show, all kids will be back
to school either you know, for a month or maybe
a couple of weeks. Now, what is the importance of
immunizations around this time?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
It is very important. It's crucial. Think about these a
bunch of kids together, you know, sharing the bugs.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
I know, I have a ten year old going into
fifth grade, a.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Lot of illnesses. The only preventative measure is vaccines. Okay,
think flu for example, There's no way to prevent them.
You can wash your hands, you can do all you want,
but at the end of the day, immunizations will be
or immunization for flu will be the key element to
be fully protected. And not only that it protects you,
but it protects the people around you. So with that
(05:01):
same premise protecting the others because you're vaccinated, you know,
ask how you protect your schoolmates, you know, your teachers
and whatnot. So it is crucial that everyone is protected
before they even go into school.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
So with vaccines, there's a lot of you know, I
believe in them. I don't believe in them. Is there
any myths or anything that you hear people saying like,
oh my god, that's just not you know, being in
this industry where you want to let the listening audience
know like that's not true, or this is maybe a
resource that you can go and educate yourself more on
(05:34):
them and afterward decide where you can still say no,
say yes, but this is something that you might want
to look into.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Correct. There's a lot of misinterpretations from old data from
back in the day. There was a study, I want
to say, in the eighties. Don't quote me on this, moom,
but it's an old one that said that autism came
from vaccine. Yes, that's been debunked. Like it's in the past,
it's old and gone. There's fresh new data that says,
know that there's no correlation there. So it's it's interesting
(06:05):
how nowadays we have a lot of information.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
You know, you know it just literally at our fingertips,
and a lot.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Of it is real information. You go to the CDC,
to go to science journals, go to the real data,
and don't go to TikTok please, I know that's the
wrong information from the wrong sort.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Evan, let me have you put your mic a little
bit closer. That way people can can can hear what
you're saying better. So with immunized outpass, so again with
the free and low cost immunizations. Whoever cares to answer,
how do people know when they go, Okay, this is
what I'm going to pay when they are going to
get these vaccinations.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
So we do work with a TVFC program, which is
the Texas Vaccines for Children's Program, who allow us to
provide vaccines at a lower cost. We do charge ten
dollars for those children who qualify. As far as vaccines needed,
it just depends, you know. We just ask for them
to bring their immunization record with them so we can
(07:05):
evaluate and see what they're missing. We always try to
adminissure everything that they are needing, you know, to send
them back home protect it. If they don't have an
immunization record, we can always look it up on the
state registry. But yeah, it's ten dollars for vaccine for
those children qualify. We also do carry our private stock
for those who do not qualify for the TVFC program.
(07:25):
But yeah, we have everything at ammunis all passo.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
So I mean for those listening that may be wondering,
you you have your baby, you take them to the doctor,
they get their immunization's vaccinations. Are those the same thing? Yes, yes,
oh it's.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
The same thing.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
So you take your baby to get their vaccinations. So
it's not something where you have your baby and then
they get their initial vaccines at immunize al passle. Right
they go to the doctor first or how does that work? Like,
at what point can they transition to getting their vaccinations
at immunizel passo.
Speaker 5 (07:54):
We start vaccinating patients at the age of six weeks. Okay,
so yeah, they can go to us for their two
month old baby vaccines.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Oh okay, okay, that's interesting. And is there any other
other than vaccinations and immunizations for kids? What are the
other vaccinations that are available as they get older that
are maybe not well, none of them are mandatory, right,
but that are maybe a little bit more people tend
to not get them. They choose, you know, yes or no.
(08:23):
Like as they get older.
Speaker 5 (08:24):
We offer the flu vaccine, COVID vaccine, RSV vaccine. It's
you know, it's coming around the corner to the season.
And we also provide other services for example, TB testing,
We do lab work. We see a lot of patients
come into us for lab work. They need tighters you know,
(08:45):
for ranking into the nursing program, whatnot, just to go
into a hospital and.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Work at a hospital.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
We do that and we do the quantifferent which is
a TV test but through the blood. You know, then
it's faster too. Ohug testing drug testing to pregnancy testing too.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yeah, drug testing and pregnancy testing. And when you say
lab work, is it the same kind of lab work
you know that you would get at like QUEST Diagnostic.
Really I did not know that.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
As a matter of fact, we are partnered up with Quests,
so we we draw the blot with the sample and
then we send that out to Quest. Mind you that,
because we're a nonprofit, our prices are definitely, you know,
less than any private company. So we served the community.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
That's wow. I did not know that. And again, if
you're just tuning in, I have Ivan Luna, director of
Immunized al Paso as well as Christina Arevalo, clinic administrator
for Immunized al Pasos. So you do the immunizations up
since two months, you do the testing, you do drug testing,
you do. I don't know you guys did all that.
(09:48):
You do the pregnancy testing. So where can people find
all of this information? Where would be the best place
to look?
Speaker 3 (09:55):
The starting point will be our web page, Okay www.
Immunized Alpasso dot org or argue us a call and
then mister Leo, who's a receptionist. You know, he's always happy,
you know and answering the phone. So nine one five
five three three three four one four or visit us.
We got two locations. It's fourteen hundred George Theater and
then our central location which is sixty two ninety two
(10:16):
throw Brick.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
And what are the hours?
Speaker 3 (10:18):
We are Monday through Friday eight to five. And then
our eatside location, the one on fourteen hundred George Theater.
We're open on Saturdays from nine to twelve.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Okay, perfect. And when I went online to immunize Olpasso
dot org, I saw a join waitlist. So can people
go on there if they you know, just want to
sign up and then go go later or how does
that work?
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Yes, they can. We do that wait list.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
They're at the clinics as well, So if you're already
getting to the clinic, you know, you can go ahead
and join the wait list. We do recommend for you
to join the wait list. We don't recommend to join
the wait list to foreign advance. But yeah, if you're
getting you're getting closer to the clinic, go ahead and
join the wait list, and that way you're already on
the list. You know, we're back to school in full
effect right now. We are seeing a lot of patients.
(11:05):
But yeah, we try to get patients in and out.
So yeah, when you.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Join the wait list, when you're there or getting to
the clinic, is it online? Is that the same one
that you're talking about? Yes, okay. And then do they
like text you or call you when it's your turn? Yes,
we send a text message. Oh perfect. Yeah, that's that's
the way now, especially with restaurants and you know, everything
being so busy online. I also saw that people can donate.
I'm assuming monetary donations. If they do decide to donate,
(11:34):
where do those funds go? What happens with those funds?
Speaker 3 (11:36):
We use funds for many different things. Let me give
you an example. We have a program that we call
it Flu to you.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
That is a program where we can send our staff
to vaccinate people at home. And this is for individuals
with mobility issues. It started with elderly and with flu only,
and then it grew up to be all kinds of
vaccines to anyone that has mobility issues. So being donations,
you know, got us yes, vehicles, you know whatnot technology
(12:04):
the employee in a nonprofit h you know, we're very
happy to say that we just started working with a
new electronic health record. Back in the day used to
be all by hand, you know, counting vaccines with little sticks. Yeah,
we have a system. All good investment in alle of
that takes you know, funds. So we're very thankful for
our donors and we're always welcoming new donors.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Perfect, and so we have we do have a few
more minutes. I'll start with you first, Christina, Is there
anything else that you would like to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
Just get vaccinated. Get vaccinated. Remember, if we get vaccinated,
we protect those who cannot get vaccinated due to any
you know, health issues. So let's let's be a good
community and get protected.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
And I'm assuming that on immunizelpassl dot org there's maybe
some resources in case someone's concerned about getting a vaccine
or what is this vaccine? Do I need this vaccine?
At what age? Do I need this vaccine? That information
will be on that website.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
Yes, there's information on our website. However, you can always
call us. We can give you that information or the
CDC is a good guide as well.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Okay, the CDC perfect and ivan. Is there anything else
that you would like to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Yes, to invite everything, everyone to get vaccinated during the
upcoming respiratory illness season. What is that, Well, it used
to be flu season. Now we're calling it respiratory illness
season because it includes more than flu, RSV, pneumonia, flu covid.
So it's a little bit of everything. Get vaccinated. You know,
I'm very impressed. I used to work in urgent care
(13:35):
and I used to see RSV as an illness and
it's bad, it's scary. So when I come to work
on the vaccine world and I see that there is
an RSV vaccine, I'm like, people get it, you know, Yeah, vaccinated,
protect yourself, don't get sick the fall, the winter's coming
and to get more sick. So just get protected.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
So that RSV vaccine. So my daughter got very sick
this past February. She they couldn't diagnose her. She had anemonia,
she had bronchitis, she had asthma, she had rs VP,
and it was it was very scary. Now this RSV vaccine,
is it kind of like a blanket for just like
to make your lun stronger, or how does that work?
Like is it specifically pneumonia, specifically bronchitis, or how does
(14:18):
this vaccine work?
Speaker 6 (14:19):
Well?
Speaker 3 (14:19):
RSV in its own, it's a virus. It's different from pneumonia.
It's okay from bronchitis, but it's it's in the same
world of respiratory Okay, sickness, and r vaccine will protect
you for that.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
I wish there was another one for bronchitis for example. Yeah,
so there's one for RSV, so get it. It's a
one time thing. Okay, it'll get your protected. You want
to talk about the.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
Ages, Yes, so RSV is sixty five and older, and
we do have we do carry vaccine two for children.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Okay, for babies. Okay, so my daughter's ten, she would
she be.
Speaker 5 (14:57):
No, she wouldn't be part of that agent. It's okay
because OURSV is seen. Unfortunately, you know, there are some
kids who do get it at different ages, but it's
studies show that it's more common in babies.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Ah. So yeah, there is the vulnerable populations for us. Okay,
all right, Well, thank you both for being here with
me today. Thank you for this important information and thank
you for what you do and we hope to have
you back on soon.
Speaker 5 (15:21):
Thank you, thank you for having us.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Welcome to the al Paso Public Forum. I am your host,
Amberbanda and right now we have Michelle Webano, director of
Education for pro Action, Inc. Emergency Services Institute. Michelle, thank
you for being here with me today.
Speaker 6 (15:42):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Of course, so pro Action, I actually just had immunized
al Paso on the show. That is one of the
I guess uh services that's offered under the umbrella of
pro Action. Correct, yes, okay, So pro Action what we're
going to focus on today or the services you provide,
which is event medical services, CPR and first aid courses.
(16:03):
Becoming an EMT. What is that encompass everything or is
there more to add?
Speaker 6 (16:07):
We have a couple of specialty courses called ACLS that's
part of like first the CPR and first aid training
as well, but for the most part it's EMT, CPR,
first aid and we do the medical event services.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
So like when we're at a concert Luke Bryan comes
to town and people are feigning it's gonna be a
Proaction that's taken them on the stretcher. Yes it is. Okay,
so it's proaction. The only ones that if there's a
concert that comes, it's only production that you'll see are
other different organizations.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
I haven't experienced or heard any recently. There was a
couple of them few years back, but I haven't seen
any others.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Okay, So the more likely it is proaction inc Now,
I in my head when I see these medical services,
I'm thinking, okay, someone you know, because this is a nonprofit.
So it's actually a nonprofit that's providing these medical services
to the community. Correct, Yes, okay, So for the event
medical service or people that want to become an EMT,
(17:02):
they want to learn CPR, first aid, ACLS, how do
they go about applying for these services?
Speaker 6 (17:09):
So if they want to become an EMT, then they
can go ahead and apply either directly to our website
or they can come in directly to our facility. We
usually ask them to come in so we can go
ahead and give them a tour of the facility so
they can.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Get to know the staff, get.
Speaker 6 (17:25):
To see again the facility, our classrooms, our skills room,
and all that good stuff. After then we usually make
a registration appointment for them so then we can go
ahead and start the process on getting them all the
documents that we need from them, their registration packets and
all that good stuff.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
So if someone wants to be an EMT, do they
need any like prerequisites, any previous college courses or anything
like that. Really No, we have.
Speaker 6 (17:49):
Kids coming straight off from high school and then we
have those that are you know, they want a change
of career like later on in life, So there's no
prerequisites for it.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Is there an age limit? I'm thirty nine if I
wanted to becoming really okay, that's awesome. And since it
is a nonprofit do they get is it just like
a university? Do they pay university fees or how does
that work?
Speaker 4 (18:09):
So we have a flat rate.
Speaker 6 (18:11):
It's a three thousand dollars tuition rate and it's all inclusive,
so they don't need to buy books, they don't need
to get they don't need to go outside for anything.
The only thing that they would have to get are
their boots and their pants, but we provide their uniform
polo they're tiders, which is some bloodwork that they need
to get in order to join the program, as well
their TV tests, their flu shot, all of that is included.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
And is that just one semester to become an EMT
or is it three thousand per semester and there's multiple semesters.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
No, it's just one time. It's a one time fee
and the courses run between four and five months long,
depending on the schedule. So we have two different schedules.
We have a morning class that usually runs Monday through Thursday,
eight to twelve, and then we have an evening class
that will run Mondays, Friday, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from
six to ten. The morning class is usually a little
(19:00):
bit shorter due to the extra.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
Day in the week. It makes like a month difference.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
So the evening classes usually are are longer, but.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
You graduate faster. Yes, that's awesome. I had no idea.
That's really cool. So the CPR and first aid courses
in the ACLS do you have to be wanting to do?
Do you have to be on the path to becoming
an EMT to take those or no?
Speaker 6 (19:23):
Right now, these are offered to the public in general.
We have the BLS for healthcare providers, so anybody who's
in the med it's.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
A type of CPR.
Speaker 6 (19:31):
It's for people who are in the medical field, they'll
be the ones who take it. It goes from a CNA,
e MT, Medical assistant, dental assistant, nurse doctor. Anybody with
the medical title can take the BLS. Oh, now, we
have another type of training which is a CPR and
first state.
Speaker 4 (19:49):
That one is a lay.
Speaker 6 (19:50):
Rescuer type of CPR, which is more for the community.
It's trained in a way for people to understand. It
doesn't have medical terms like the BLS and stuff. So
like that you're able to understand it and be able
to practice the skills and all that.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
So with that, do you have it for kids and
adults because I know, like CPR and first aid is
going to be different for kids versus adults. Do you
teach for all ages?
Speaker 6 (20:15):
Yes, So our trainings usually the BLS does go through infant,
child and adults, and so does the HEARTSAER, first aid
and CPR.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
And for the for the community, the one where you're
not medical, the CPR and the first aid. That is
that at cost? Do people pay for that or is
that okay.
Speaker 6 (20:35):
It's seventy five dollars, which it's a combined course the
first aid and CPR including infant, child and adult and
the certification is good for two years.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
And I know there's certain jobs that require that as well.
I believe you know, I did fitness training before I
did radio, So that's a good one to have. And
for people that maybe don't have it as a job
requirement or where it would benefit their workspace, what do
you have to tell the commune, like, Hey, I know
you don't really deal with medical issues, or you don't
deal with a lot of people, but this can help
(21:06):
you at home in this capacity. What do you have
to tell them?
Speaker 6 (21:09):
Unfortunately, most of the emergencies happening at home, okay, So
if there's somebody at home that can initiate the process
of CPR before emergency medical gets there, then they'll have
a higher chance of being saved.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
And how long is that course?
Speaker 4 (21:25):
It's about four hours?
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Oh, it's just one day. For it's one day, okay,
And that I know that it gives it keeps you
certified for a certain amount of time, but that's it.
Speaker 6 (21:33):
The certification is good for two years, and this is
good for teachers, coaches, personal trainers, construction workers like all
of the above. Even I usually always recommend for first
time moms to do it too, you know, it's something
new that we're going into. You never know when something
could happen. So the first day it does go through
(21:55):
environmental emergencies, medical emergencies.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
I would say, like choking. I don't even know if.
Speaker 6 (22:00):
That that, it does include it in there as well.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
And then it's important to keep up with it because
I know at one point there was you know, the
whole padding them on the back, and I think that changed,
you know, as far as dislodging a piece of food
or I don't know what it is anymore, but I
know like there's research that comes and it's you and
you want to stay up to date with how to
help save a live and if you're just joining us,
we have Michelle uevan No, Director of Education for pro Action, Inc.
(22:26):
Emergency Services Institute. They just celebrated thirty years in our
pass so it is a nonprofit now, Michelle, they have
the Event Medical Services SEEPYRN, First Aid Courses ACLS. Becoming
an EMT, Now, are there any other services outside of
that that you want to let the public know about
or elaborate on any of those?
Speaker 6 (22:48):
So not only do we train our future EMTs, we
also provide employment for them. So the medical events services
that we have. Most of them are they were or
students at some point.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Ah, that's I had that. I didn't know how to
phrase the question, but I was going to ask that too.
So it's usually the EMTs that you've been training to
be an event medical for event medical services. It's awesome
and plus they kind of get to see a free concert.
I mean, you know, they got to keep on top
of it. That's kind of a bonus. So if people
wanted to donate, because again this is a nonprofit, this
(23:22):
is for the community, the donations go to the Jill
Field Ems Scholarship Fund. Can you tell us a little
bit more about that scholarship.
Speaker 6 (23:30):
Yes, So this scholarship goes directly to the students. We
know there are students out there who unfortunately don't have
the funds to continue their career, so.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
We have this.
Speaker 6 (23:43):
Fund which helps them. We've donated over thirty five thousand
dollars in scholarships to students who in need, so that's great.
So all the donations that we've got are going directly
to the students.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
And again, the more students graduate, the more students that
are out there to be able to help. You know,
in the community with these medical services. The more people
there are out there that know to do CPR and
first aid, it can save a live You don't want
to think about it, but it could be your loved one.
But that's what you're helping. And for students that maybe
want to apply for this scholarship fund, how can they
go about doing that?
Speaker 6 (24:14):
They can either go to our website at proactionems dot
org or they can come straight to our facility at
fourteen hundred George Theater, Sweet to sixty, l Paso, Texas,
sevent nine, nine thirty six.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
And is it Can they apply at any time or
are there times where it's open application?
Speaker 6 (24:30):
No, So we have our classes. We have them open
at the beginning of the year. We open the classes
that we'll have for the rest of the year. Okay,
so as soon as they're open and if they're posted
on our website, you can go ahead and apply for them.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
And the CPR and first aid courses for someone that
wants to take those. Is there the schedule there as
well at proactionems dot org.
Speaker 6 (24:49):
Yes, that one is there, And again we have classes
throughout the whole year and different times as well.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Yeah, for everyone's working schedule. With that, Well, that's awesome
pro action and cal to keep our passos safe. Why
did you get involved into proaction out of curiosity?
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Actually I've been their third of their existence.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
Really, Yes, I started as a receptionist and then I
just started working my way up.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Right, And then have you ever thought about becoming an
EMT or you see what they go through and you're like, nah,
I'm good.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
I actually am EMT trained.
Speaker 6 (25:20):
I did training a few years ago, but then I
was like, I think I'll stay behind the desk.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
I mean it takes a very special individual to do that.
I'm not saying, you know, you're not special or anything
like that, but I like, I love to help people,
but when it comes to that, I'm just so not
level headed. When I see blood or you know, I
you know, there's a mom panicking or someone's choking. I
just and again, it just takes a certain level of
(25:48):
easygoingness maybe to be an EMT. But you know, Michelle,
thank you again for being here with me today, and
again if you want to donate to the jail Field
EMS Scholarship Fund. It's for students from disadvantag communities and backgrounds,
helping to increase access to life saving CPR on first
aid skills in rural communities. Go to proactione ms dot org.
(26:10):
If you want to take the CPR or first aid courses,
you want to become an EMT, you want to take
that ACLS. You need event medical services. So if people
are going to have an event, you know I work
with a lot of event coordinators, they can contact Proaction
if they need medical cure. Of course perfect again proactionems
dot org and of course on power Sonny and k Hey,
(26:33):
we will have this information available to you. So Michelle,
thank you so much for being here with me today.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
You've been listening to El Paso Public Forum, a weekly
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio l Paso. If you, your
organization or event would like to be featured on an
upcoming program, please email to ep Forum at iHeartMedia dot
com or call us at nine one five three five
one five four zero zero. Tune in again next week
(26:59):
for an another additional of El Paso Public Forum. The
preceding program was recorded at the studios of iHeartRadio El
Paso
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