Team lead Pat Chernow, left, with PebbleCreek Pickleball Medical Team members Teresita Laron and Steve Jensen (photo by Kathy Aalto)
Barbara Wellington
Have you ever considered serving at a pickleball tournament without a paddle? Well, you can, opportunities are available Feb. 25, 26, and 27 this year.
The PebbleCreek 10th Anniversary Tournament is looking for medical professionals to staff our first aid tent in the upcoming tournament.
We are fortunate to have Pat Chernow, former Navy Nurse, managing the medical team, she’s been onboard for five years! Her experience includes many clinical areas with seven years in the Emergency Department. She expressed that she has a “great team of volunteers and is looking to expand the team.”
The First Aid Station is staffed by three volunteers who are made up of two people with medical backgrounds such as nurses, physicians, paramedics, EMTs, or a professional who has training in teaching First Aid or CPR. The third volunteer can be a non-medical person who assists the medical team. The average shift is 3 hours and we offer mornings, late morning to early afternoon, and afternoons.
The primary responsibilities are to provide first aid if a player or visitor is injured or becomes ill. The majority of contacts are for minor injuries that involve application of ice for strains or sprains, bandages for abrasions, treatment of muscle cramps, or overheating. We call 911 if someone experiences a medical emergency. Training on chest compressions and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) is provided.
If you are interested in providing a service to your community while watching great pickleball, please contact Pat Chernow at 774–766-9126 or pat.chernow@gmail.com.