This Week in EMS: Feuding Emergency Responders...9/11 Settlement...Multipatient Medical Event

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Tension Between Public, Private Las Vegas Responders Disturbing

Ever since the North Las Vegas Fire Department sought to transport more people to make more money and save firefighters' jobs, says John Wilson, general manager of American Medical Response and Medic West Ambulance, the fire departments in every jurisdiction are looking for retribution. If they get there first, some fire department responders are hustling to transport patients without waiting for the private responder.

Records in Pittsburgh Snowstorm Death Do Not Exist

More than a month since a Hazelwood man died while waiting 30 hours for an ambulance, some records detailing the hours leading up to the incident just don't exist.

WTC First Responders in Court on 9/11 Settlement

A federal judge wants to hear from ground zero workers about a multimillion-dollar legal settlement for people sickened by dust from the World Trade Center.

Point of View

Do We Deserve To Be Called Ambulance Drivers?

Anyone who has been in EMS for more than three months knows the sting, indignation and revulsion of being called an ambulance driver. Some medics politely try to correct people. Others say nothing after being labeled for so long it no longer registers, but we all feel the insult. "Here's the worst part," says author Patrick Pianezza, "as a medic for nearly 10 years, I'm starting to wonder if we deserve the title."

EMS Training Center

Multipatient Medical Event Tests Wake County EMS

At 9:26 a.m., on February 13, the Raleigh-Wake (NC) Emergency Communications Center received a call that a large number of children who had eaten together at a convention were beginning to get sick. While the caller advised that EMS was not required, the dispatch supervisor notified Deputy Fire Marshal Charles Ottaway, the county fire, rescue and emergency management duty officer, of the call. By 2:15 p.m., nearly 140 patients had been triaged. Forty required treatment.

Featured Article

Overwhelming Force

Not all the dangers associated with your ambulance come in the form of crashes and abrupt starts, stops and swerves. Just getting your patient into your rig to be transported can pose physical risks, as countless providers with battered backs can attest. What veteran providers have long known was quantified in recent research by an Australian ergonomist specializing in emergency-services operational issues. His findings, while more indicative than determinative, lend some mathematical legitimacy to long-held concerns about ergonomic design, physical demands and injury risk.

Continuing Education

ECG Clues to Identify the Site of Occlusion in Acute Myocardial Ischemia/Infarction

This video presentation sponsored by Philips discusses the value of ST depression and ST elevation in helping to better localize the acutely ischemic/infracted region and predict the site of occlusion within the involved coronary artery. The overall goal is to recognize clues in the ECG that will shorten the interval from discovery to treatment and improve patient outcome. 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.

Abdominal Trauma

Blunt and penetrating abdominal trauma are major causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States, particularly because it can be very difficult to recognize clear symptoms early. This article discusses the incidence and epidemiology of abdominal trauma, reviews abdominal anatomy, discusses the mechanisms of injury for abdominal trauma, explains an abdominal assessment as part of a trauma exam and discusses prehospital management.

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 viewing this video, take the CE test that accompanies this lesson at www.rapidce.com.

Industry News

FEMSA Says: 'Vendors Call Your Congressmen'

Hey, makers of EMS and fire equipment and gear: How about asking your congressperson over for a visit? That's the message from the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association (FAMA) and Fire and Emergency Manufacturers and Services Association (FEMSA), who are promoting their yearly "Home Day" event for member companies.

Featured Job

Risk & Safety Specialist, Mecklenburg EMS Agency, Charlotte, NC

The Risk and Safety Specialist at Medic is responsible for coordinating all risk management, OSHA and safety related activities for the agency to ensure appropriate record keeping, education, training and regulatory compliances.

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

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Featured Forum Thread

Crohn's Disease

emt-B asks: I need to know whether the EMS system has ever come in contact with patients suffering from Crohn's disease. How would you treat a patient with Crohn's and are we allowed to administer medication to patients with Crohn's?

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

Poll Question

This week we ask our readers: Have the recent large earthquakes in Haiti and Chile prompted any planning, training or review of relevant materials in your department?

Grant & Scholarship News & Resources

State Grants Going Unused by Ohio Fire, EMS Agencies

Ninety-three fire and emergency medical agencies across Ohio that were awarded a combined $362,433 in state grants last year failed to claim the money.

Have you recently written a successful grant proposal? Then we would like to hear from you for an article we are preparing on grantwriting best practices. Please e-mail your experiences to Nancy Perry, Editorial Director.

Website of the Week

National Information Exchange Model

The National Information Exchange Model is a partnership of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. It is designed to develop, disseminate and support enterprise-wide information exchange standards and processes that can enable jurisdictions to effectively share critical information in emergency situations, as well as support the day-to-day operations of agencies throughout the nation.

Noticeboard

Seeking Heart Safe Communities

Nominations are due by March 22 for a pair of awards given by the International Association of Fire Chiefs for communities working to improve their cardiac arrest survival rates.

The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) and EMS Magazine have established the National EMS Awards of Excellence program to recognize outstanding achievement in the EMS profession. The nomination period for these awards is now open. Don't miss your opportunity to win cash prizes and a trip to EMS EXPO.

The March issue of EMS Magazine is now available online. This month, we feature articles on career development, fluid resuscitation and abdominal trauma, plus a special supplement on EMS vehicle ops.

EMS on the Hill

The current issue of EMS on the Hill is now available. In this issue, we feature articles on NAEMT's EMS on the Hill Day, the recent FICEMS meeting in Washington, D.C., and coverage of the annual meeting of the National Association of EMS Physicians.

EMS Responder Daily Tips

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

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:

• April 10: Surviving the IED Response, Greensboro, NC
• April 12-14: Beyond the Street: EMS Supervisor Workshop, St. Paul, MN
• 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 11-13: 2010 Disaster Recovery and Response Expo, Nashville, TN

Other top headlines this week on EMSResponder.com

• Maine Ambulance Service Suspends Itself
• Welsh Ambulance Service Deploying 'Super' Paramedics
• Fla. Group Under Investigation for Rescue Squad Donation Calls
• Pilot Error Blamed in Fatal Illinois Helicopter Crash
• Four Injured When Ambulance, Car Collide in Ohio
• Plane Making Emergency Landing, Hits, Kills S.C. Jogger
• 'Bad Smell' on Airplane Sends Nine to N.C. Hospital
• D.C. Fire Chief: EMS 'Not Broken' Despite 'Total Failures'
• Top Health Officials Fired After Complaints from Okla. Ambulance Service
• Wash. City To Study Partnership With Private Ambulance

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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.