Friends of EV dogs

Among people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, wandering away from the facility or home is a frequent occurrence.   According to Robert J. Koester, there are about 31,000 incidents each year where resources are deployed, but this figure represents only a fraction of all cases. Many are resolved by caregivers without outside support. And that is the problem.  Because people wander frequently, family members and caregivers often postpone calling for assistance  — sometimes with tragic results.

Data from Bob Koester’s long-term study of searches in the state of Virginia clearly show that early involvement of Search and Rescue personnel is crucial to a good outcome.  The single biggest difference between those who are found alive and those who are found dead is the length of time until a search and rescue provider was called.  The mean elapsed time from “last seen” to contact with a SAR agency for all survivors is 12 hours.  The mean elapsed time for those found dead is 50 hours.

These data were presented to the administrative team responsible for emergency planning at Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC)  by Eagle Valley Search Dogs (EVSD) president, Rita Argiros on April 6, 2009.  Sarah Sherburne, Karen Pardini and K-9 Suki filled out the EVSD’s team. Among those attending were Richard Martinkovick who is in charge of Emergency Management for Sullivan County and Jared Sharpiro from the NYS Department of Health.  The meeting was organized by Rolland Bojo, CRMC Emergency Manager and his assistant Maggie Cronin.  Other administrators from CRMC who attended were all involved in risk management, nursing and emergency services were Leslie Gartland, Eileen Trickey, Ann Korlink, Barbara Gentile and Kelly Ketcham.

K-9 Suki

The initial plan for the day called for an outside demonstration.  Rain got in the way and we moved the demonstration indoors.  Our dogs also search buildings.  Karen Pardini and K-9 Suki did a phenomenal demonstration. CRMC employee, Maggie Cronin hid in an office on a corridor of about a dozen empty rooms.  Working independently, Suki systematically cleared each room and located the subject without difficulty, returning to Karen to give her trained indication in spite of Maggie holding, petting and praising her.

About a dozen hospital staff, state and county administrators observed the demonstration and were impressed by Suki’s ability to change gears.   When Suki first arrived at the hospital, Maggie Cronin took her on a tour of the oncology ward where she behaved like a great therapy dog. Then,  during Argiros’ presentation,  Suki  sat soaking up affection from willing admirers.   Then, as soon as Karen put her to work, her demeanor changed radically and she paid no attention at all to the people who had been petting her moments ago. She just did her job.

CRMC’s emergency response plan for an elopement includes calling EVSD immediately.  “We would rather be en-route and hear that the subject has been found than be called too late.” Argiros said.  Key members of EVSD are all within an hour’s drive of CRMC and we left with floorplans to all the buildings and outlying areas. These will be built into a preplan that EVSD officers will keep ready—just in case.

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