(Leitchfield, KY) – He wears many hats as a first responder, and has a unique vantage point from the lens of emergency services. Derrick Lasley works as an ER Registered Nurse at Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center, and has for the past nine years; however, he has served as a volunteer fireman for the Leitchfield Fire Department for the past 18 years. Before becoming a registered nurse, Lasley worked as an EMT, which led him to being interested in serving as a fireman.
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Lasley says the work can take a lot of swings, especially if you start with a patient on-scene of an accident, ride in with the patient to the emergency room, and stay with them through treatment processes. He called it difficult in the situations that the patient would likely succumb to injuries, but said he is honored to serve his community in this manner; a community where he is familiar with most faces, or akin due to his large family.
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Lasley has 400 hours of training and certification as a first responder; fire training requires only 150. According to Bill Oldham, PR Director for TLRMC, “In addition to his regular duties in the Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department, Derrick is the lead for the hospital’s Hazardous Materials Response Team (HazMat). In this role, Derrick oversees and trains staff members how to set up equipment and procedures used to “clean” victims exposed to a wide range of hazardous substances before they can be treated for injuries and/or the effects of such exposure.” Lasley explained that a contaminated state could include: meth explosions, gasoline spill, or urban warfare involving chemicals. He said Dawn detergent is used with most cleanups, but sometimes it’s a dry brush, or baking soda that is used to neutralize chemicals. Lasley’s training is part chemist as he must access the contamination and make a decision on how to stabilize the contamination.
Lasley says his favorite part of being a first responder is extrication, “The key is: you don’t take the person out of the car, you take the car away from the person…” He says this love has led him to his part time job at the National Corvette Museum Racetrack. (Listen)
Lasley works with the Teddy Bear Clinic, started by Juanita Porter and James House several years ago at TLRMC. The clinic is to help small children be less anxious about medical visits. He also helps with other offsite training with students of all ages with things like first aid, and good hygiene practices.
Lasley says his wife, Deanna, and two children: Deranne & Dax, help motivate him, and help him decompress from moments of exposure to traumatic experiences.
Grayson County is privileged to have first responders who volunteer their time to help citizens during their most difficult of situations. Congratulations to Derrick Lasley for being named the K105-Carter Harrell & Dale Woosley State Farm First Responder of the Week.
