The Northwest Wisconsin Regional Trauma Advisory Council (NWWIRTAC) is the largest of seven designated trauma regions in Wisconsin.

With a focus of improving the trauma care delivery system in northwest Wisconsin, NWWIRTAC is a key stakeholder in our coalition.

Our Three AREAS

The Regional Trauma Advisory Council of Northwest Wisconsin is comprised of all entities that are involved in the care, treatment, and transportation of trauma patients within the 15 counties that makeup our service area.

The mission of the NWWIRTAC is to ensure open communication and cooperation along the vital chain of survival for the citizens who live, work, and play in Northwest Wisconsin.

RTAC Co-Chairs:
Wayne Street •
Susan Ehman •

Data Keeper: Alana Schutts •

Education and EMS

Identifies, advocates for, and supports trauma related training in the region for EMS, trauma committees, and hospitals.

Chair: Lee Huber

Injury Prevention

Evaluates data from the Wisconsin Trauma Registry to identify and fund injury prevention projects throughout the region.

Chair: Joni Gilles

Performance Improvement

Evaluates trauma related data and processes to improve the quality of trauma care within the region.

Chair: Jennifer Mazur

Calendar

RTAC Meeting
May 23 • 11 AM - 1 PM • Western WI Health- Baldwin, WI

Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)
May 28 • 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM • Washburn EMS

Midwest Regional Trauma Symposium
June 5 - 7 • Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI

Aircraft Accident Safety for 1st Responders
June 8 • 6 - 8 PM • Chippewa Valley Airport

Advanced ICS (ICS 400)
June 14 - 15 • Eau Claire County Emergency Operations Center, Eau Claire, WI

Pediatric Disaster Response and Management
September 27 - 28 • Spooner Fire Hall

The NWWIRTAC is committed to improving trauma care in northwest Wisconsin. This past year we worked toward this goal by providing educational scholarships to EMS personnel and hospital staff for classes such as Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support, Car Seat Passenger Safety Technician Course, and the UW Hospital Emergency and Trauma Care Conference.

We review the trauma data and statistics for our region and strive to prevent injury by providing equipment and supplies to the community such as:

Stop the Bleed Campaign
Stop the Bleed Campaign is a grass roots effort to encourage bystanders to respond quickly and effectively to bleeding emergencies. Many members of the RTAC are trained to educate public on how to respond quickly in such an emergency. Three Stop the Bleed Training kits are available to borrow for local training. For more information, please contact:

Mark Manning (Hayward Area Memorial Hospital)
Dominic Ehman (Westfields Hospital and Clinic)
Rebecca Ekenstedt (Cumberland Healthcare)
Lacey Huset (Mayo Clinic Health System - Northland)
Erica Kurtz (Memorial Medical Center - Ashland)
Courtney Meyer (Marshfield Medical Center - Ladysmith)
Joni Gilles (Mayo Clinic Health System - Eau Claire)

Life Vest Loaner Boards
As part of the Kids Don't Float campaign, four DNR life vest loaner boards were completed in 2015 by Eagle Scout candidate Sam Reams and two in 2014 by Eagle Scout candidate Will Blake. Both Scouts belong to Troop 77 in Chippewa Falls. The loaner boards can be found at Altoona Beach, Ray's Beach on Lake Wissota, Riverview Park, Lake Holcombe, Coon Fork, and Half-moon Beach.

Replacement Car Seats for Emergency Departments
We equipped emergency departments in our regions with replacement car seats to give families in the event of a car crash.

Helmet Giveaway
We purchase and distribute bike helmets to local law enforcement and emergency departments to be given away at their discretion to patients, children, etc.

Increasing Awareness About the Risk of Falls in Senior Communities
We printed placemats to educate about the risk of falls and prevention for Senior Centers and Faith Communities.