News

This Week in EMS: Medic Hit by Drunk Driver...$10M EMS Lawsuit...Recruitment Video

04/08/2010

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Calif: Man Drives Home Drunk After Hitting Medic

The Bakersfield Police Department said a man has been arrested on drunken driving charges after he hit and dragged an EMS provider before returning home.

Florida Agency Vows Appeal after $10M Lawsuit Verdict

The mother of a child born two months prematurely during an ambulance ride has received a $10 million jury verdict for medical expenses, pain and other damages, but EVAC Ambulance vows to appeal.

Paramedics Top UK List of Most Trusted Occupations

Paramedics, pilots and the police came out top in a UK survey regarding trust.

The Corner Office: Practical Management for EMS Leaders

Help Wanted: A New Approach to an Old Problem

When MONOC Mobile Health Services in New Jersey wanted to ramp up its employee recruitment efforts, producing a recruitment video seemed like a dynamic new way to attract new staff. This article outlines five steps agencies need to take when using video to recruit new personnel.

Prehospital Profiles

Emergency Preparedness: Expanding to an All-Hazards Approach

The Shoalwater Bay Tribe began developing its emergency preparedness program in 2005. In 2007, winter storms that damaged buildings and cut off this coastal community from outside help offered a chance to rehearse its preparations. The first full-scale community evacuation drill was held in 2006. Following a tsunami alert in September 2009, the tribe again launched a community-wide evacuation exercise to test its emergency preparedness system.

EMS Training Center

MCI Management Tips

The ability to effectively manage an MCI is entirely dependent on how much effort has gone into building your MCI response capabilities. A well-managed mass casualty event is only possible when it has been front-loaded with adequate preparation, including resources, equipment, policies, procedures, strategic stockpiles, interagency agreements and both initial and ongoing collaborative training.

Featured EMS Magazine Article

EMS Response to Mass Violence

Virginia Tech in 2007. Mumbai in 2008. Fort Hood in 2009. As mass-shooting incidents continue, it is important that responders are aware of their dangers and response considerations. Wherever you work, you and your agency will likely face the challenge of responding to a critical mass-shooting or mass-violence event.

Continuing Education

Therapeutic Hypothermia in EMS

Protocols are emerging that specify post-cardiac arrest cooling in the ambulance. This video presentation sponsored by Philips examines EMS protocols and describes how you might start cooling in the field, monitor patient progress and hand off to the hospital. After viewing this video, take the CE test that accompanies this lesson at www.rapidce.com.

This CE activity is approved by EMS Magazine, an organization accredited by the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS), for .5 CEUs. After viewing the video, take the CE test that accompanies this lesson at www.rapidce.com.

Facial Trauma

Facial trauma is most frequently caused by motor vehicle collisions, physical altercations and falls. This CE article discusses the incidence of facial trauma, reviews facial anatomy and physiology, and discusses the assessment and treatment of the facial trauma patient. This article also features a lesson plan that utilizes the content of CE articles to help facilitate training sessions. Use or adapt this lesson plan for your organization, its personnel and its local protocols.

This CE activity is approved by EMS Magazine, an organization accredited by the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS), for 1.5 CEUs. After reading the article, take the CE test that accompanies this lesson at www.rapidce.com.

Industry News

Braun Industries Delivers Seven New Ambulances to El Paso Fire Department

Braun Industries announces the delivery of seven new Braun Chief XL Type III ambulances built on the Chevy C4500 chassis platform with bariatric capability to the El Paso Fire Department in El Paso, TX, through its distributor LFG El Paso Truck Services, a division of LTG Fire and Emergency Services in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Featured Job

Firefighter/EMT, Steamboat Springs, CO

This position will operate under the direction of the company officer and will be expected to perform daily fire department operations to include activities involving fire suppression, emergency medical service, rescue operations, hazardous materials incidents, fire prevention education and inspection, equipment and facility maintenance and other duties as assigned.

Click above for details and visit www.EMSResponder.com/jobs for additional listings.

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Featured Forum Thread

Reaching Retirement

EMTVOLFF asks: Why is it that we see fire and police personnel retiring from their respective forces quite often, but never any EMTs or paramedics? If I were to ask anyone what would be the issues holding back EMS as a valid career path, I'm sure there would be lots of opinions and very good answers. Personally speaking, I think one of the biggest issues we have is with management and administration.

Follow the link to read more, or browse other topics at www.emsresponder.com/forums.

Poll Question

This week we ask our readers: You suspect your patient is a victim of intimate-partner violence. What do you do?

Grant & Scholarship News & Resources

Application Period Now Open for IAEMSC Harvard Scholarship

The International Association of Emergency Medical Service Chiefs (IAEMSC) and INTERMEDIX of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, have announced the opening of the application period for the 2010 Harvard Kennedy School of Government's Senior Executives in State and Local Government program scholarship.

Nominations Now Open for 2010 Robert G. Nixon EMS EXPO Scholarship Program

Nominations are now open for the Robert G. Nixon EMS EXPO Scholarship Program, which awards two scholarships each year for EMS providers to attend EMS EXPO. The scholarship consists of a 3-day core program registration to EMS EXPO and $1,000 stipend to cover travel and expenses.

Website of the Week

TeamSTEPPS

TeamSTEPPS, a teamwork system from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, offers solutions to improve patient safety within your organization through an evidence-based teamwork system designed to improve communication and teamwork skills among healthcare professionals.

Noticeboard

EMS Pioneers To Be Honored in Los Angeles

On May 8, 2010, the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Board of Directors will host the Inaugural Pioneers of Paramedicine Lifetime Achievement Awards Gala, honoring four of the doctors who conceived the paramedic idea and were present at the "birth" of modern EMS.

National EMS Awards of Excellence

The nomination period for the National EMS Awards of Excellence is now open. Don't miss your opportunity to win cash prizes and a trip to EMS EXPO 2010 in Dallas, TX, September 27-October 1.

EMS Responder Daily Tips

Check out EMSResponder's daily tips. During April, we will feature daily MCI management tips. If you have a tip you would like to share with us, e-mail Editorial Director Nancy Perry.

EMS Magazine April 2010

The April issue of EMS Magazine is now available online. This month, we feature articles on NYC Medics' response to Haiti, EMS response to mass violence, prehospital management of gunshot wounds and treating the near-drowning patient.

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:

May 1-8: International Police Mountain Bike Association Conference, St. Louis, MO
May 3-4: 1st Annual EMS on the Hill Day, Washington DC
May 8: Pioneers of Paramedicine Gala Dinner and Fundraiser, Los Angeles, CA
May 10-11: Regional UASI (Urban Area Security Initiative) Workshop, Philadelphia, PA
May 11-13: 2010 Disaster Recovery and Response Expo, Nashville, TN
May 15-16: A Weekend with Bob Page, Garden City, KS

Other top headlines this week on EMSResponder.com

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We Want to Hear From You
If you have a news lead or story idea you would like to submit to EMSResponder.com, please e-mail Nancy.Perry@cygnusb2b.com.