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This Week in EMS: A Recap for May 31 - June 6, 2008
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A follow-up to last week's train crash in Newton, Mass. reveals the technical and emotional hardships that rescuers faced at the scene.
Two trains derailed after a rush-hour collision, injuring 12 passengers and trapping a train operator in the wreckage. The tense rescue attempt lasted until 24-year-old MBTA operator Terrese Edmonds was pronounced dead at 9:15 p.m. by a Boston MedFlight doctor. However, the team continued working for another four hours to extricate her body.
"The most challenging part was when it became clear there was no hope of saving the life of the operator," officials said.
Read more at Courage, Anguish at Mass. T Crash Scene.
The recent deaths of three Wisconsin Med Flight workers have put the spotlight on helicopter EMS safety. With crashes on the rise nationally, all aspects are under scrutiny -- flight regulations as well as necessity and outcome statistics.
The problem is that scientific research on the effect of air transport on patient outcome is all over the board, according to this latest report.
"Appropriate use of the helicopter is the hottest issue in the business," says Dr. Stephen Thomas of Massachusetts General Hospital, a nationally known researcher on air medical transport.
For details visit Helicopter Transport a Hot Topic in Wisconsin after Crash.
In an effort to cut back on non-emergency EMS runs, the Houston, Texas City Council voted Wednesday to hire round-the-clock "tele-nurses" to work with 911 dispatchers.
Callers who do not have a true emergency can speak to a nurse, who will offer first-aid advice or help them find a clinic or doctor. Speaking with the nurse will be voluntary, and if a caller wants an ambulance, it will be dispatched.
Houston will be one of the first cities to use tele-nurses for 911 calls. Richmond, Va., has a similar program.
For details on the program visit Houston OKs Nurses Helping With 911 Calls.
The Georgia EMS community is mourning the loss of Thomas County Paramedic Jeffrey Todd Harris, 37, who died suddenly last week from undetermined medical causes. Harris had an injury while on duty, went home to recuperate, and never woke up.
Coworkers described him as charismatic, patient, enthusiastic, and genuine; "exactly what a paramedic should be."
Read more at Georgia EMS Loses One of Its Own.
Industry News:
Tri-anim and Bound Tree Medical Merge to Create Nation's Leading Specialty Health Care Distributor
Together, the two companies provide more than 100,000 health care products to thousands of hospitals, surgery centers and emergency care providers throughout the country. They will continue to operate under their existing names.
Application Period for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services (SAFER) Grants Now Open
An increase in funding in FY2008 provided by the Congress is more than 60% higher than the FY2007 level -- equally increasing the applicant's chance for success. The deadline for receipt of applications will be 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 27, 2008.
A new bimonthly column in EMS Magazine examines real-life cases in which providers or patients were at risk, and offers strategies to help readers avert danger in similar situations. To submit case studies for possible review, e-mail Nancy.Perry@cygnusb2b.com.
Featured Column:
Cardiovascular Fitness for EMS
In EMS we are rarely required to run distances in our uniform; however, we spend much of the time utilizing stored cellular energy, or the Anaerobic system," writes EMS fitness columnist Bryan Fass. Click to read about anaerobic training.
Featured Job:
Education Manager - MAST, Kansas City, MO
MAST is a high performance EMS system running over 80,000 calls a year that promises many exciting challenges for the successful applicant. The Education Manager is responsible for overseeing a team of educators and improving the educational offerings in the system. Application deadline is June 30.
Click for details and visit www.EMSResponder.com/jobs for additional listings including:
- Regional Account Managers and Sales Representatives -- ESO Solutions
- Rescue Tech Coordinator -- Jamestown, NC
- Chief of EMS -- 45th Parallel EMS, Northern NH and VT
Featured Forum Thread:
How long should a paramedic course be?
Forum visitors are discussing the ideal length and level of training for EMS providers -- "and the most important question, WHY????"
Click above to read, or browse the forums at www.emsresponder.com/forums.
Poll Question:
Does helicopter EMS transport need stricter standards?
Click to participate, and view previous polls at www.EMSResponder.com/polls.
Reminders:
Your Agency Could Be the Winner of the 2008 EMS Magazine Gold Service Award!
Click above for details and to fill out the online nomination form by August 1, 2008.
Please answer a few brief questions. Results will appear in a forthcoming issue of EMS Magazine.
EMS Magazine's 23rd Annual Braun Industries/Monster Medic EMT/Paramedic of the Year Award
Nominate a colleague by July 7, 2008. It's easy! Click above for contest details.
Other top headlines this week on EMSResponder.com:
- Milwaukee Responders Worry About Crowd Control
- Pennsylvania Medical Helicopter Crash-Lands after Takeoff
- Seattle Air Ambulance Addesses Issue of Obese Patients
- War Creates Shortage of Night Vision Gear for EMS
- Dead Man's Defective Phone Line Calls 911 in Texas
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.
