ADVERTISEMENT
This Week in EMS: Social Networks Fight Floodwaters
Sign up here to receive the EMS Weekly Recap in your e-mail.
Fargo, N.D. Uses Social Networks to Fight Floodwaters
Residents were scrambling this week in Fargo, North Dakota as the swelling Red River threatened the city. It emerged that officials and citizens were making vital use of social networking sites to disseminate information and to rally the thousands of volunteers needed to pile sandbags 43 feet high.
The river was almost 39 feet by midday Thursday and was expected to crest Saturday. For updates and further details, also see Volunteers Scramble as Fargo, N.D. Nears Record Flooding .
7 Kids Among 14 People Killed in Montana Plane Crash
A small plane carrying a group of people from California to Montana crashed into a cemetery near the airport in Butte and burst into flames, killing seven adults and seven children.
Also this week, a FedEx cargo plane crashed into a Tokyo runway while attempting to land, killing the American pilot and copilot. Visit FedEx Cargo Plane Crashes at Tokyo Airport; 2 Dead.
Dozens Injured after Tornados Rip Through Mississippi
At least 28 people were injured but no deaths were reported following a destructive storm system in Mississippi early Thursday.
Across the state, 43 structures were destroyed and another 146 were damaged by at least five confirmed tornados. The worst hit area was the small town of Magee, where residents were quickly trying to recover before another storm system was expected Thursday or early Friday.
Industry News:
Stimulus funds will soon be available to improve health care services across the nation.
Ferno Launches Grant Assistance Program
The new program is a free service available to qualified EMS and Fire/Rescue customers.
News Exclusive:
Public Safety Held to Higher Standard
In the past weeks, two firefighters have made national headlines not for saving people but for allegedly setting fires, including one that left several people dead.
Firefighters are not alone when it comes to lapses in ethics. It extends to EMS personnel and law enforcement officers as well... and when they misbehave on or off the job it becomes news. As a result, a reputation management group was formed to address the issue.
Featured Column:
"As far as I'm concerned this 'instinct' is one of the most valuable tools we have, in part because it is based mostly on hard-earned experience," writes guest contributor Jody Marks. "But it's important not to let ESP take over when EMT should still be running the show."
Featured Job:
Paramedic/EMT-C - Cumberland, RI
"We are currently seeking qualified Paramedics/EMT-C for Rescue Personnel. Application deadline is April 1, 2009."
Click above for details and visit www.EMSResponder.com/jobs for additional listings.
Sign up here to receive the new EMS Jobs e-newsletter.
Featured Forum Thread:
"I don't know much about the different machines that are on the market," writes firemedicgm. "For those of you that use CPAP in the field, what equipment do you carry? What do you like or dislike about it?"
Follow the link to read more, or browse other topics at www.emsresponder.com/forums.
Poll Question:
Have you ever met a patient that you or your agency helped save?
Click to vote!
Reminders:
EMSResponder.com Joins LinkedIn Professional Network
EMSResponder.com has a new group on the LinkedIn professional network. Join to connect with other EMS Magazine and EMSResponder.com readers, and also check out our growing group on Facebook.
Call for Nominations: Heart Safe Community and STEMI Awards
Physio-Control and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), EMS Section, will sponsor three awards to recognize Fire EMS Systems that are helping their communities be more Heart Safe. The application deadline is April 3, 2009.
Other top headlines this week on EMSResponder.com:
- Ohio Committee Questions Need for Paramedics
- Tennessee Rescue Squad Succumbs to Funding Problems
- Cooling Therapy for Cardiac Arrest Hits Snag in Cleveland
- Texas Ambulance Hits, Kills Illegal Immigrant
- NJ Sheriff's Ambulances Fill Void as Volunteer Squads Shrink
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.
