NAEMSE Releases First Draft of New National EMS Education Standards

NAEMSE Releases First Draft of New National EMS Education Standards
     The first draft of the new National EMS Education Standards, which will replace the longstanding DOT National Standard Curricula, was unveiled for public comment in June. But if you want to sound off about them, you'll have to act quickly. Public comments on the standards-available at www.nemsed.org-are due by July 31.

     The standards, developed by the National Association of EMS Educators, grew out of a mandate in the EMS Education Agenda that also led to development of the National EMS Core Content and National EMS Scope of Practice Model.

     Formalizing education standards "will help guide EMS education program managers and educators in making appropriate decisions about what material to cover in the academic setting," according to their architects. "The standards will also be used by publishers to develop instructional materials."

     Each component of the standards will articulate minimal terminal learning objectives for each level of licensure (the new levels are Emergency Medical Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, Advanced EMT and Paramedic), but more broadly, they're designed to enhance flexibility in education programs and improve and facilitate methods of delivery.

     Those behind the standards, and the instructional guidelines that accompany them, emphasize that they represent a "starting point for dialogue with the national EMS community," and that comments, feedback, observation and thoughts about their contents are welcome as they work toward a final version, which is due to be presented at a national EMS stakeholder meeting in February 2008.
-NAEMSE

AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR CYANIDE POISONING?
     Hydroxocobalamin-a natural form of vitamin B12-may be an effective antidote to cyanide poisoning from smoke inhalation, a study appearing on the Annals of Emergency Medicine website suggests.

     The French study is from 1994, and examined 69 smoke-inhalation victims with suspected cyanide poisoning treated with hydroxocobalamin. Of those ultimately identified as having cyanide poisoning, 67% survived after receiving the hydroxocobalamin. A previous study showed a higher mortality rate for similar patients not receiving hydroxocobalamin.

     Said lead author Frederic Baud, MD: "Unlike some cyanide antidotes, hydroxocobalamin…can be used to treat patients without significant risk of harm."
-American College of Emergency Physicians

PEDIATRIC DISASTER SCENARIO GUIDE
     The Illinois EMS for Children program has released a series of disaster preparedness exercises focused on the pediatric population that agencies can use to improve their readiness for such events.

     Developed with direction from the Illinois Terrorism Task Force's Pediatric Bioterrorism Work Group, the booklet, Disaster Preparedness Exercises Addressing the Pediatric Population, features several scenarios and tabletop exercise templates, plus additional resources.

     Download it at www.luhs.org.
-National Assoc. of State EMS Officials

STOP DEATH-BENEFIT DELAYS
     The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) is seeking help in pressuring the Bush administration to expedite administration of the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act. According to the CFSI, the U.S. Justice Department has made only two positive determinations out of more than 230 applications under the program, which was passed in 2003 to extend the public-safety officer death/disability benefit to the survivors of those felled by strokes or heart attacks in the line of duty. The group is circulating both a customizable form letter that emergency providers can send to the president, seeking his help in ending Justice's "delays and denials" of the families seeking the benefit, and a letter to fellow members of Congress, seeking their support.

     For more, see www.cfsi.org.
-CFSI

TRAUMA SYSTEMS FUNDING APPROVED
     President Bush signed the Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act of 2007 in May, providing continued funding for U.S. trauma systems through 2012.

     The American College of Surgeons says the law will make trauma care more available across the country and help ensure the emergency medical services necessary to care for trauma victims.

     "The nation just took an important step forward in disaster preparedness," ACS executive director Thomas Russell, MD, said of the law.

     The act will also establish uniform triage protocols and standardize trauma center designations. It provides $12 million in funds for fiscal 2008, followed by $10 million for FY09 and $8 million for each of the next three years. The program was not funded in fiscal 2006-07.
-American College of Surgeons

NASEMSO: NEW TRAINING MONOGRAPH
     The National Association of State EMS Officials announced the publication of its latest monograph, The Training and Certification of Emergency Medical Services Personnel.

     All 50 states and the District of Columbia contributed to the effort, which, according to NASEMSO president Fergus Laughridge, reflects "extensive work…in instrument design, information gathering and data analysis" that merits a high degree of confidence in the findings.

     Order it from www.nasemso.org
-National Assoc. of State EMS Officials

Medic Sued After Discussing Woman's Assault on MySpace Page
     A Portland, OR, rape victim is suing a paramedic who discussed her assault on his MySpace page, saying he invaded her privacy and provided enough detail about the crime that locals news media were able to identify her.

     The suit names both medic Simon Green and his employer, American Medical Response. It alleges Green published the approximate location of the assault, a description of her knife-wielding attacker, and her comments about him, as well as other details, potentially impeding police investigation into the crime.

     The unnamed plaintiff was raped and beaten in her apartment on February 15, and Green was among the emergency personnel who responded. According to The Oregonian newspaper, he then allegedly described on his site how the man followed her inside and assaulted her, adding details such as the attacker "forced her to shower in front of him" and "smelled of bourbon and cigarettes." Green further recommended that women fight back, writing "It's only a knife, and any rapist is a coward who will probably turn tail at any resistance," and suggested they arm themselves.

     When Portland police discovered details of the crime they hadn't publicly released posted online, they interviewed Green, who reportedly told them he was only trying to raise awareness and help women be able to defend themselves. He said he didn't think what he wrote violated any patient-privacy laws because he didn't use the woman's name. Police considered charging Green, the newspaper said, but determined he hadn't committed a criminal offense. As of early May, the assault case remained open.
-The Oregonian

MAN DIES WHEN COPS REJECT CPR OFFER
     A Florida man having a heart attack died after police allegedly prevented a bystander-a former volunteer firefighter and CPR instructor-from delivering CPR.

     John Wells, 57, seemed to be in distress before crashing his car, according to a report by Orlando's WESH TV. Melbourne police then helped him out of the vehicle, where Wells "started to die."

     The bystander, Bob Ellis, said he "offered to maintain the airways," but was dismissed by officers, who said paramedics were already en route. "The only thing they did was prop his head up, which is exact opposite of what [they] should have done," Ellis said.

     Saying the matter was under investigation, Melbourne police wouldn't answer questions about it.
-WESH

NAEMT CONDEMNS ILLEGAL DRUG USE BY EMS PROVIDERS
     The National Association of EMTs has issued a position paper condemning the use of illegal drugs by EMS providers.

     In the April release, the organization urges services to adopt zero-tolerance policies toward illegal drug use that impairs job performance and work to establish objective guidelines for determining such impairment. As well, it supports working proactively to identify personnel who use illicit drugs or steal medications from their agencies or patients; implementing safeguards to track ambulance medications; and providing employees with access to assistance programs.

     For the entire statement, see www.naemt.org.
-NAEMT

BAD CPR? NEW GLOVE WILL LET YOU KNOW
     Problems with the quality of CPR could be solved by a new computerized glove that measures and gives feedback on the caregiver's chest compressions.

     The glove, developed by scientists in Canada, could also be widely used by the general public and help even those without CPR training save lives, according to an article in Britain's Daily Mail newspaper.

     Containing sensors inside and a liquid crystal display on the back, the glove monitors and displays the amount of force being used and the depth of chest compressions, as well as warning wearers when their hands are in the wrong position or their angle to the chest is off.

     When the hand is placed on the chest, an electrode in the glove's palm checks for a heartbeat. If one is found, it displays basic CPR instructions on the back. Sensors then measure the compressions, and a small microchip analyzes the information and alerts wearers to needed adjustments.

     The glove likely won't be available for another year, the paper reported, but is expected to be a boon to emergency care and beyond.

     "Not only is it a lifesaving device," said Atreo Medical Inc., the Canadian company behind the glove, in a statement reported by the Daily Mail, "it will also be used as a training tool."

     The British Heart Foundation says evidence supports the utility of such devices, but adds they don't negate the need for good training.
-Daily Mail