ADVERTISEMENT
This Week in EMS: Facebook Firing...Helicopter Safety...Childcare and Shiftwork
Sign up here to receive the EMS Weekly Recap in your e-mail.
Conn. Ambulance Employee Wrongly Fired for Facebooking
An ambulance company employee learned the hard way that Facebook is not like Las Vegas--what's said there doesn't just stay there. Now federal labor officials say she was improperly fired.
Diagnostic Heart Test Being Used to Screen First Responders in Maine
Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death among on-duty firefighters, but some of the deaths could be avoided with a piece of test equipment that can help detect the small heartbeat irregularities that indicate a heightened risk for heart trouble.
Tenn. County Border Victims Ask, 'Where's The Ambulance?'
A Channel 4 I-Team investigation found emergency victims along Davidson County's border sometimes waiting up to 30 minutes for an ambulance, while just across the county line, an ambulance was minutes away and couldn't respond because of a Metro policy.
EMS Operations
Helicopter EMS: Part 2--The HEMS Safety Debate
HEMS safety is a genuine public issue that is being widely debated for one very simple reason: Medical staff and patients are dying. But is the industry being unfairly judged because of its high visibility? According to many who work with HEMS, the answer is a definite yes.
The Corner Office: Practical Management for EMS Leaders
When Lysol Isn't Enough: Nine Steps to Establishing an Exposure Control Plan
While there are templates that can be used to write your agency's exposure control plan, the important concept to remember is the plan must be customized to your agency's individual needs.
EMS Life
When Johnny Met Rosie--Women in EMS Part 3: Child Care & Shift Work
EMS providers face many challenges when juggling childcare and shift work. It's essential to investigate reliable options and look for viable solutions that will not cripple you financially in the process.
Reading Room
Please Don't Dance in My Ambulance
Barry Bachenheimer was in college when he first penned Please Don't Dance in My Ambulance. Years later he discovered the hidden gem in his college papers and published his prose, much to the delight of his children and other young fans. With a 25-plus-year career in EMS, Barry knows all about the value of educating the public about EMS; the message behind this book is that EMTs who work on ambulances are there to help people, and that while EMS is a serious business, it's also fun.
Podcasts
The EMS Squadcast: National Association of State EMS Officials Meeting, October 2010
The EMS Squadcast is a podcast series dedicated to discussions relevant to the world of EMS today. Join Tim Perkins as The EMS Squadcast records at the annual meeting of the National Association of State EMS Officials in Norfolk, VA. Tim speaks to Karen Jacobson from NEMSIS on the importance of data in EMS and to state EMS directors Gary Brown of Virginia, Dennis Blair of Alabama and Lee Burns of New York about issues their respective EMS systems are facing.
Continuing Education
Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the leading causes of accidental poisoning death in the United States. It contributes to a minimum of 40,000 emergency department visits and 500 unintentional deaths annually. There are an additional 4,500-5,000 intentional (suicide) carbon monoxide poisoning deaths each year. As the symptoms are often vague and attributed to other ailments such as the flu, many experts believe that an additional 11,000 cases per year are undetected or misdiagnosed.
This CE activity is approved by EMS World Magazine, an organization accredited by the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS), for 1.5 CEUs. After reading the article, download the test that accompanies this article or take the CE test online at www.rapidce.com.
Featured EMS World Magazine Article: November 2010
The West Webster (NY) Fire Department, which provides fire, rescue and basic EMS transport, was called for a 24-year-old male with his hand trapped in a snow blower. If you live in a place where people use snow blowers, take the time to learn about the machines. Just as with a person trapped in a motor vehicle or piece of heavy machinery, there is no standard way to remove someone entangled in a snow blower. This case review outlines the steps taken to rescue the man whose fingers were pinched between the impeller blade and the housing.
Product News
EMS World Announces 2010 Top Innovation Awards
EMS World Magazine has announced the winners of the 2010 Top Innovation Awards, which recognize the industry's most innovative products of the year exhibited at the 2010 EMS Expo in Dallas, TX. The awards will be presented at the Texas EMS State Conference in Austin, TX, November 21-24
Featured Video
Beaverton, Ore. Fatal Crash, 6/30/10
It took firefighters 30 minutes to extricate the driver, who did not survive the crash. Video by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue.
Noticeboard
EMS World Magazine, EMSWorld.com and EMS World Expo invite you to submit photographs that represent your world in EMS. Submit photographs in the following categories: training, real-life incidents, community involvement and hanging with EMS colleagues. The grand prize winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to EMS World Expo 2011, August 31-September 2, in Las Vegas, NV.
EMS United
EMS United has been designed exclusively for EMS professionals. This is your place to connect with your peers quickly and easily online. Ask questions, share tips & tricks, discuss business challenges & solutions, & much more. Become part of EMS United today!
Featured Job
Paramedic, Mercy St. Vincent, Toledo, OH
Assists physicians and/or registered nurses with special procedures, including surgical procedures, and performs designated patient-related duties according to policies and procedures. Works as part of a team to maintain and organize departmental environment. Performs various routine clerical duties. Assists in the provision of care for patients of all age groups who are ill or injured.
Click above for details and visit www.EMSWorld.com/jobs for additional listings.
Sign up here to receive the new EMS Jobs e-newsletter.
Reader Poll: On-Duty Accident
This week we ask: A firefighter had a seizure while driving an engine and struck a house. He'd had one such seizure before. His department's insurer, claiming it was an unexpected medical event, is refusing to pay for the damages. Should the department be responsible? Click here to let us know your thoughts.
Upcoming Events
Visit our Events Calendar to see what educational opportunities are in your area, plus post your own listings. Here are a selection of EMS upcoming training events:
- November 19-20: Creighton University EMS Competition, Omaha, Nebraska
- November 21-24: Texas EMS Conference, Austin, TX
- December 8-11: ECCU, San Diego, CA
Other top headlines this week on EMSWorld.com
- UK Medics Lacked Equipment During 7/7 Bombing Response
- N.J. EMS Supervisor Fails Sobriety Test at House Fire
- Minn. Agency Cited for Unsafe Tires in Fatal Accident
- Declining Volunteer Numbers Ongoing Issue for S.D. EMS
- Some FDNY EMTs Handing Off Calls
- Canada Blaze Destroys Ambulance, Damages Others
- Memphis Paramedic Served Prison Term While on Leave
- Idaho Moviegoers at Halloween Event Get Chemical Scare
- Pennsylvania Man Casts Vote From Ambulance Cot
- UK Tea-Break Ambulance Man is Suspended Over Death
- Minn. Firefighter Injected Himself With Patient's Fentanyl
Become a fan of EMSWorld on Facebook
Interact and chat with other members of the EMSWorld Facebook community, while getting access to daily postings and news updates.
Stay in touch 24/7 with breaking news and industry developments by following EMSWorld.com on Twitter to get daily EMS news headlines delivered to your Twitter account.
We Want to Hear From You
If you have a news lead or story idea you would like to submit to EMSWorld.com, please e-mail Nancy.Perry@EMSWorld.com.
