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This Week in EMS: H1N1 Preparedness...Federal EMS Issues...Special Event EMS
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DHS Secretary Advises Flu Preparedness
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has advised emergency officials and community leaders to plan for high rates of absenteeism this fall in case staff become sick or need to care for sick children, the age group hardest hit by the H1N1 flu strain. "Do it now before we're in the midst of this," she said.
Florida EMS Medical Director Pulls Medics
Twenty-five North Naples firefighters are no longer allowed to work as paramedics because they haven't met training requirements set by Collier County Medical Director Dr. Bob Tober. North Naples Fire Chief Orly Stolts said the move puts good medics out of commission and endangers residents.
Military Rethinking Golden Hour
The U.S. military is rethinking its "golden hour" goal for critically injured troops, questioning whether it should spend a little longer evacuating patients to get them to a better hospital.
Connecticut Aims to Save Illegal EMS Subscription Service
For nearly five decades, residents in Pawcatuck paid a fee to have an ambulance service in neighboring Rhode Island respond to their calls. The ambulance service was provided through a subscription, but now the state of Connecticut has told them it's illegal. Now, Connecticut legislators plan to introduce a bill this fall that would allow the corps to once again offer the subscription.
Federal EMS Issues
The latest issue of EMS on the Hill, a quarterly newsletter that addresses EMS issues for U.S. Senators and Representatives, federal EMS agency heads, state EMS directors, EMS chiefs and department heads, features articles on pandemic flu preparedness, legislator ambulance ridealongs, surge capacity and rural EMS issues.
EMS Operations
Anywhere a large crowd congregates, the need for a well-prepared emergency medical team is present. To provide the best possible service to their communities, it is essential that EMS agencies covering concerts and other large gatherings take all the risk factors into consideration and make sure the proper equipment and resources are in place to address all potential scenarios.
Training & Resources
Real World Skills for Scene Safety: Part 4
The fifth of DT4EMS' six steps, basic ground defense (BGD) is used to give the provider a moment to protect him- or herself if knocked to the ground. BGD is used to keep an attacker at bay. It can be employed if the provider was kneeling and attacked by surprise by either the patient or a bystander.
August CE Article: Critical Decisions
As a responder, your actions within the first few moments of arriving on the scene of a motor vehicle crash are crucial to the success of managing the situation. Within these moments, you must size up the situation, mitigate as many hazards as possible, establish incident command, rapidly triage patients and ultimately assess, treat and extricate patients from the scene. This CE activity is approved for 1.5 CEUs by EMS Magazine, an organization accredited by CECBEMS.
This month, EMSResponder offered daily money management tips for handling both business and personal finances. Check out the archives and look for EMS educator top tips next month!
Featured Podcast:
Is the economy having an adverse affect on emergency medical service crews? Thom Dick, EMS Magazine columnist and quality care coordinator at Platte Valley Ambulance in Brighton, CO, talks about the challenges EMS crews are facing due to budget cutbacks as part of The Brian Lehrer Show's Uncommon Economic Indicators series.
Industry News
Saint Paul F.D. Receives Grant for High Visibility Safety Jackets
The Saint Paul Fire Department has been awarded a grant of $16,240 from the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, an Allianz company. The grant was awarded for the purchase of high visibility EMS jackets to be worn by the fire department's 137 paramedics.
Featured Job
Moore County Hospital District EMS is looking for a full-time paramedic. Located in America's heartland, just 45 minutes north of Amarillo, TS, we are a hospital-based EMS service.
Click above for details and visit www.EMSResponder.com/jobs for additional listings.
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Featured Forum Thread
DaSharkie says: The Deputy Chief's talking points were right out of the playbook from every other fire department's push that they can do it better, faster, and however else they think they can. In the vast majority of cases, EMS is a lifeline for a fire department to add staffing, retain staffing or boost a budget.
Follow the link to read more, or browse other topics at www.emsresponder.com/forums.
Poll Question
This week we ask our readers: Have you been or will you be vaccinated against novel H1N1 influenza?
Grant Information
Check out the latest resource from EMSResponder--our EMS Grants page--which offers a variety of resources for grant-writing and fundraising.
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 training events in October:
- October 4: Advanced EMS Medical Directors Forum and Workshop
- October 5-8: ACEP Scientific Assembly, Boston, MA
- October 15-18: Vital Signs 2009, Rochester, NY
- October 26-30: EMS EXPO 2009/NAEMT Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA
Reminders
7th Annual National EMS Systems Survey
EMS Magazine and EMSResponder.com are proud to offer the 7th annual comprehensive survey of EMS systems in the United States. Survey results will be published in the December 2009 issue of EMS Magazine, as well as featured online, and are designed to provide an overview of the EMS profession as it exists today across the spectrum of EMS delivery systems. Surveys must be completed by October 9, 2009.
EMS EXPO Announces Photo Contest for 2009
For the second year, EMS EXPO is looking for photos of EMS/rescue/fire professionals in the field, at training events or in the workplace. Photos must be received by September 18, 2009.
Other top headlines this week on EMSResponder.com
- NY Considers Law to Ban Shackling Pregnant Inmates
- Woman Charged in Theft of Florida Ambulance
- Illinois Town Loses Ambulance Service
- Nurse Saves Memphis Firefighter's Life
- NAEMT Releases Statement on EMS in Health Care Reform
- Florida Crews Rescue Girl from Pool Drain
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.
