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This Week in EMS: Hurricane Ike Wreaks Havoc in Texas
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Rescuers set out last weekend in a massive operation to save hundreds of people stranded by Hurricane Ike's floodwaters in Texas. The storm destroyed thousands of homes, blew out windows in Houston and left many without power.
By some estimates, more than 140,000 of the roughly 1 million people ordered to evacuate tried to tough it out, frustrating emergency officials.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry called the resulting effort "the largest search-and-rescue operation in the history of the state of Texas."
Read more about it at Air, Water, Land Searches Underway in Texas.
In another major disaster, a commuter train collided last Friday with an oncoming freight train in California, causing the nation's deadliest rail disaster in 15 years. The incident left 25 people dead and 135 injured, with 81 transported to hospitals in serious or critical condition.
The commuter train engineer was blamed for running a stop signal, and investigators confirmed this week that he was text messaging while working on the day of the fatal collision.
Read more and view pictures at Two Dozen Killed in California Train Collision.
Industry News:
Registration for the EMS Diversity in America Tour Closes Wednesday, Sept. 24
By participating in the tour in the Southwest U.S., EMS professionals will earn 30 CEU's and will receive a complimentary 3-day Conference Program pass, valued at $355, to EMS EXPO, Oct. 15-17 at the end point in Las Vegas.
Class 1 Recall: Physio Control, Inc. LifePak CR Plus Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
The following recall was initiated August 28, 2008.
Product: LifePak CR Plus Automated External Defibrillator Product Number: 3200731-003 and 3200731-027. This device was manufactured from May 20, 2004 through August 11, 2007 and distributed from May 20, 2004 through December 4, 2007. Click above to read the full recall notice.
Featured Column:
"There is no shortage of research or lack of co-workers to tell you that your chance of surviving a career in public safety without a back injury is slim to none," writes EMS fitness expert Bryan Fass. He suggests taking responsibility for yourself and preventing back injury with the following exercises.
Featured Job:
Various Positions -- A.T.S. Medical Services, Inc. (Northern IL)
A.T.S. Medical Services, Inc. provides emergency ambulance, non-emergency ambulance, Medicare, dispatch and staffing services to the Northern Illinois area.
Click for details and visit www.EMSResponder.com/jobs for additional listings including:
- Division Chief/EMS -- Boise, ID
- EMTs and Paramedics -- Cabell County and the city of Huntington, WV
- EMTs and Paramedics -- Baytown, Pasadena, Webster and Houston, TX
Featured Forum Thread:
Atropine/Atrovent and peanuts?
"Can you give Atropine to someone allergic to peanuts?" asks forum member ParaMaybe. What about Atrovent?
Click above to read this medical discussion, or browse the forums at www.emsresponder.com/forums.
Poll Question:
Following last month's article, South Carolina EMS Agency Institutes 'No Transport' Fee, we're asking our readers, Should patients be charged a fee if they call 911 for medical assistance but refuse transport?
Click to participate, and view previous polls at www.EMSResponder.com/polls.
Reminders:
Call for Registration: EMS EXPO 2008!
Registration is open for EMS EXPO 2008. The conference takes place October 13-17 in Las Vegas, NV. Register now to guarantee your placement in limited classes.
To submit case studies for possible review in EMS Magazine, e-mail Nancy.Perry@cygnusb2b.com.
Free Poster: Do You Care Enough to ICARE?
A poster is currently in design to illustrate the ICARE principles. To request a free copy, e-mail your name, title, agency name and mailing address to nancy.perry@cygnusb2b.com.
Other top headlines this week on EMSResponder.com:
- New Jersey Ambulance Hits Medevac Chopper at Crash Scene
- D.C. EMT Slashed by Firefighter at Station
- Judge Rejects Hackensack, NJ EMT Layoffs
- German Shepherd Calls 911 for Owner in Arizona
- Connecticut Responders Revive 12-Year-Old Boy
- San Francisco FD Loses Lock on Emergency Ambulance Service
- C-PAP Devices Embraced as Emergency Aid
About Heather Caspi, EMSResponder.com Editor-in-Chief
Heather Caspi has been a public safety journalist since 2000, beginning as a reporter for sister site Firehouse.com. She later became the assistant news editor for Firehouse.com and Officer.com, and led the launch of EMSResponder.com in 2005. She graduated from the University of Maryland with degrees in Journalism and English Language and Literature, and earned her EMT-B at Merritt College in Oakland, California. She can be reached at Heather.Caspi@cygnusb2b.com.
