Get Low Cost Pet Vaccinations this Weekend in Shreveport
Video: Army Vet Falls Nearly 100 Feet In Major Accident
A U.S. Army veteran was recently injured in a significant paramotor accident. Footage recorded from the incident shows the veteran falling almost 100 feet to the ground.
When it comes to extreme sports, things can sometimes go wrong for even the most experienced. Anthony Vella, a paramotoring enthusiast, discovered this when a simple overlooked tension knot caused a disastrous accident mid-air, causing him to plunge nearly 100 feet to the ground and resulting in devastating injuries.
Vella shared a video of the accident on his YouTube channel. The video shows Vella in a hospital bed. The veteran can be seen wearing a neck brace and using supplemental oxygen.
Despite his obvious injuries, Vella explained that the accident was not the fault of the BDG Luna 3 paramotor he was testing at the time of the accident. He emphasized that those who share his enthusiasm for paramotoring should "double and triple check" their gear prior to taking off.
A video of Vella's accident shows how the veteran attempted to instruct Siri to call 911 with his cell phone shortly after crashing. While he struggled to report the accident to emergency services, the Daily Caller reported that two good Samaritans contacted emergency services to notify them of the veteran's location. Roughly 30 minutes after the crash, emergency services arrived at the scene and transported Vella to a hospital.
Vella's wife, Leandra, explained in the YouTube video that Vella suffered a fractured neck, back, and pelvis, as well as a shattered arm. Despite the injuries, Vella's wife noted that the veteran is determined to rehabilitate and return to creating content for his many followers.
READ MORE: Video/Pics: 45 killed after bus falls 150+ feet
"We have felt the love and support from all of you and will never be able to articulate just how much it means to him, me and our family. Anthony is very excited to get back to his strong and active self. Please subscribe to follow his rehabilitation journey and his first flight back. Thank you again for your continued support," Leandra posted in the description.
Vella previously credited the injuries he received while serving in the U.S. Army as the foundation of his love of flying.
"I got injured in Afghanistan back in 2011 and when I got out of the Army, there is obviously a lot of struggles that soldiers deal with," Vella said. "It feels empowering for someone with a disability … to be able to separate yourselves from any sort of stressors you felt on the ground," Vella said, according to KFox 14.
Vella has amassed a large following with his infectious enthusiasm and unbeatable spirit, which is apparent even in the video of the accident. As paramedics splinted his arm to prepare him for transportation, one of the paramedics reassured him, saying, "Considering you fell out of the sky, you're doing pretty good."
WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO:
Building The Valley: New Concept In Vet Care, Pets After Dark, Founded By Fox Chapel Couple
It's a problem that too many pet parents are familiar with — what to do when your four-legged friend is sick or injured after office hours.
"The options are either go to the emergency room and wait for hours or take a chance to get them seen the next day," said Fox Chapel resident Howard Swimmer.
"It's nerve-wracking. All you want is for someone to tell you what's happening. My dog has a wound. Is it infected? My senior cat is in decline. Does she need to be seen immediately?"
Swimmer and his wife, veterinarian Caroline Simard-Swimmer, have developed a new concept to help alleviate worries and provide patients with one-on-one expertise.
Pets After Dark is a subscription service that provides telehealth care recommendations during evenings and weekends.
It connects animal owners to their own vet or a local physician who has access to their pet's medical records.
Subscribers can call to describe their pet's issue and an on-call vet electronically pulls up the records, conducts an audio or video consultation and makes a recommendation.
A highlight of the program is that it guarantees an in-office appointment with the subscriber's regular vet the next business day, if necessary.
"It gave me terrible discomfort to know people weren't being supported overnight," said Simard-Swimmer, a longtime physician at Point Breeze Veterinary Clinic. "I like the community outreach aspect of this, the humanity."
Pets After Dark, launched in January, continues to compile a list of on-call vets from across the region. So far, there is a network of staff from Wexford to Pittsburgh's East End to Blairsville. The network includes about 20 vets.
Christie Schroth, an associate vet at Point Breeze Veterinary Clinic, has joined the effort.
"There have been countless times in my career, from years ago when people would look up my number in the phone book and call me after hours, to more recently with clients sending me a message on Facebook or finding my email through a mutual friend, where I am asked questions off the clock," Schroth said.
In addition to providing peace of mind for pet owners, the program gives Schroth a more predictable quality of life, she said.
"When I am on-call, I am working," she said.
When she's off, there are alternate professionals available.
She believes the program provides a continuity of care because call-takers can access specific records and connect with the family's regular vet.
"Clients also are able to talk to a vet they know and trust versus using Google to find answers," Schroth said.
Simard-Swimmer said the initiative was born out of covid-era pressures.
"Everyone was at home adopting more animals, noticing more illness during the day that they wouldn't usually be," she said.
"The strains started being felt acutely in the veterinary field across the world."
The challenges remain, she said.
"We field calls every night and talk to other vets that are all in the same boat," Swimmer said.
"Anyone can pay a fee for an online vet portal, but, with this service, we reach out to your vet office and keep your records so we are familiar with your pet."
Aside from medical expertise, Pets After Dark can be a resource for new pet owners.
"Things come about that you're not sure what to do," Swimmer said. "My dog got into medication. Are they fine to get through the night?
"A real-time look at the pet, along with advice from a vet, is nice."
A Pets After Dark subscription costs $100 per month, with a 12-month commitment. There is a discount for paying for the whole year upfront. One subscription covers all the pets in a house.
Simard-Swimmer said she hopes to eliminate stress through her service.
"No more wondering or guessing about a pet's symptoms via the web, no more late-night visits to emergency clinics for what often turns out to be nonemergency treatment," she said. "Most importantly, no more feeling alone."
Tawnya Panizzi is a TribLive reporter. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached at tpanizzi@triblive.Com.
New Resources For Veterinary Professionals Improves Access To Care
The Veterinary Innovation Council aims to address the nationwide problem of access to veterinary care
Photo courtesy of the Veterinary Innovation Council.
Formed in 2015 by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), the Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the field of veterinary medicine through innovation, education, and advocacy. Aligned with this mission, the VIC has launched new resources to address the nationwide problem of access to veterinary care by aiding underserved communities. The Access to Care Resource Hub offers veterinary teams valuable information curated from over 100 experts and organizations.
According to a news release,1 the Access to Care Resource Hub includes the following:
"Approximately 17 million pets in underserved communities across the U.S. Have never seen a veterinarian," said Jennifer Welser, DVM, DACVO, president of Arista Advanced Petcare and Chair of the VIC Board of Directors in the release.1 "This is a crisis in many communities where people either cannot afford veterinary care for their pets or lack physical access to veterinary clinics. The program we are announcing today will open the doors to veterinary care to millions of animals nationwide, providing financial and other resources to pet owners so they can help provide the veterinary care they wish for these beloved family members."
The resource platform was made possible by a grant from Mars Veterinary Health and Banfield Pet Hospital and includes input from practitioners, academics, and animal welfare advocates.1 The VIC encourages veterinary professionals share their feedback on the Access to Care Resource Hub and contribute their own insights to help grow the platform and its tools.
"We are thrilled to introduce this game-changing resource to the veterinary community," said Aaron Massecar, VIC executive director. "By equipping veterinary teams with the knowledge and tools they need to serve a wider range of clients, we can make a real difference in the lives of countless animals and the people who love them."1
Reference
Veterinary Innovation Council launches new resources to help provide access to veterinary care to millions of pet owners in underserved communities. News release. North American Veterinary Community. April 24, 2024. Accessed April 30, 2024. Https://prnmedia.Prnewswire.Com/news-releases/veterinary-innovation-council-launches-new-resources-to-help-provide-access-to-veterinary-care-to-millions-of-pet-owners-in-underserved-communities-302126175.Html
Comments
Post a Comment