Heart & Soul: Meet the Recipient of the 21st Annual EMS Magazine/Braun Industries EMT/Paramedic of the Year Award

     As the old song goes, paramedic Nelson Canizares puts his "heart and soul" into everything he does-especially EMS.

     Canizares, recipient of the 21st annual EMS Magazine/Braun Industries EMT/Paramedic of the Year award, hardly realized he'd dedicated so many years (nearly 20) to his EMS career until he was asked to recall them. Even he was surprised at how many departments he's worked for and how many lives he's helped save.

     Nelson Canizares began his career in 1987 in a two-tier system in Broward County, FL, then moved to an ambulance company in Miami, where he was working as a supervisor when Hurricane Andrew came through. He moved for a brief time to Florida's west coast, where he worked with a team of firefighter/paramedics to provide care after Hurricane Charley.

     "I finally started to burn out," says Canizares, "so I left EMS for a while and went to work for the Turkey Point nuclear site in Homestead. I missed EMS so much, I decided to go back to it and went to work in Ocean Reef as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic for about five years. After that, I came to North Lauderdale Fire Department, where I'm a rescue supervisor, do training and order most of our supplies." He is also still involved at the Turkey Point facility as its manager of EMS.

     During last year's turbulent hurricane season, Canizares again rose to the occasion.

     "Paramedic Canizares not only ran all the usual calls, he also took time to lead a team through our community to assist the families who were in need through this terrible time," says North Lauderdale FD's lead medic, Jackie Dixon. "He assisted in passing out food, blankets and water, and gave comfort to some of our elderly citizens who were afraid in the dark."

     Canizares also takes time to get involved with his community, particularly his son's new charter school, where he teaches CPR and first aid classes. And, after seeing so many children drown, he always takes time to teach young parents safety awareness along with CPR.

     "Although his duties are no different from all other paramedics in many fire departments, the very essence of Nelson's character encourages others to endure the overwhelming mixture of daily triumphs and occasional difficulties that arise," says coworker Dixon. "He deserves to be honored for his courage, commitment and awesome determination to make a difference in this community. He's an inspiration to all of us."

     Canizares accepted the EMS award with a great deal of humility and some sage advice for newcomers.

     "A lot of EMS providers are told that being in this business will make them tough-they'll get used to seeing tragedy and become strong and hard. I'd tell them to never lose their compassion. You have to keep that something inside that makes you still care. Once that's gone, it's time to move on."

     Nelson will be recognized at EMS EXPO at the opening keynote ceremony on September 27 in Las Vegas, NV, where he will receive a $1,000 savings bond from Braun and prizes from EMS Magazine, including conference registration. For more information on EMS EXPO, visit www.emsexpo2006.com.

In other EMS News

DHS Unveils Infrastructure Protection Plan
     The Department of Homeland Security announced the completion of its National Infrastructure Protection Plan, a risk-management framework that defines the roles various levels of government and private entities have in protecting the nation's critical infrastructure.

     Based on requirements set forth in Homeland Security Presidential Directive #7, the plan identifies 17 infrastructure and resource sectors requiring protective actions. These include public health/healthcare and emergency services.

     Specific plans for the sectors are to be released within 180 days. These will address the "unique characteristics and risk landscapes" of each.-DHS

Diversions Cut Into Hospitals' Revenues: Study

     Increasing hospital bed capacities can significantly reduce ambulance diversions and improve hospitals' revenues, a study published online in the Annals of Emergency Medicine found.

     As little as an hour of diversion can lead to emergency department revenue losses, investigators determined. The study involved two years of data from an urban acute-care teaching hospital with a Level 1 trauma center that treats around 43,000 emergency patients a year. Diversions and revenues were analyzed both hour by hour and in eight-hour blocks.

     Even without including trauma patients, who typically generate the highest revenues, every hour of ambulance diversion cost the hospital about $1,100 in lost monies.-ACEP