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This Week in EMS: Winter Weather Wreaks Havoc
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At least 19 deaths were blamed on winter storms this week that blanketed much of the U.S. in ice and snow.
Challenges included dangerous road conditions and power outages. Officials in Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, Arkansas and West Virginia warned that the estimated 1.3 million people left in the cold and dark may not get their power back before Saturday at the earliest, or mid-February at the worst.
Boston Department Defends Using Trucks for Medical Calls
A recent fatal crash involving a Boston fire truck responding to a medical call has rekindled debate about the city's current dual-response system. While some officials from both fire and EMS say such systems are justified, others question the practice. This article takes a look at the situation nationwide and has garnered several pages of reader comments.
California Hospitals Cut Hundreds of Pediatric Beds
Despite an increase in the child population, nearly 90 California hospitals have either closed their pediatric units or reduced the number of children's beds, resulting in a loss of 800 beds between 1998 and 2007. The budget cuts have reportedly occurred because the state reimburses more for adult care than pediatric care.
Industry News
DHS: Secretary Napolitano Issues Action Directive on First Responder Health Surge Capacity
Given the ongoing threat of a pandemic, biological or nuclear attack, improving the capacity to deal with large-scale medical emergencies is paramount. To this end, the Office of Health Affairs (OHA), working with FEMA, state and local emergency management officials, and other federal agencies shall work toward several objectives.
Featured Podcast:
Do you know what a "regularly irregular" pulse indicates? Instructor Scott Snyder of the San Francisco Paramedic Association explains and shares a trick that can help paramedic students "amaze their friends and stupefy their paramedic preceptors!"
Exclusive on EMSResponder.com:
"In my 21st year career as a paramedic, I have learned a few things," writes guest contributor Tim Peebles, EMS Coordinator and Captain with Hall County Fire and Emergency Services in Gainesville, Georgia. "First and foremost is that I am becoming the dinosaur my predecessors once were." Click to read his observations on some of the "good, bad and ugly" changes in EMS.
"In healthcare, including EMS, non-traditional approaches to workplaces and work schedules are being attempted," writes EMS management expert Paul Murphy. For individuals who are not always required to be on-scene or in-office, telecommuting may be a viable option. If that is a possibility for you or your staff, Paul provides some things to consider.
Featured Job:
Director/Chief, Emergency Medical Services -- Atlantic City, NJ
"At AtlantiCare, a rapidly growing health system on the South Jersey Coast, we firmly believe that it takes 'more than medicine to build a healthy community.'"
Click above for details and visit www.EMSResponder.com/jobs for additional listings.
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Featured Forum Thread:
The most worthless piece of equipment on my ambulance is...
"Go ahead, finish the sentence," invites forum member dr-exmedic. "From another thread which inspired this topic, I nominate the Hare Traction Splint."
Click to read more than 20 responses, or browse other topics at www.emsresponder.com/forums.
Poll Question:
Should states consider making 9/11 a holiday, as proposed in Colorado?
Click to participate, and view previous polls at www.EMSResponder.com/polls.
Reminders:
Coming Up: EMS at Firehouse World
"EMS at Firehouse World" is bringing the high-level education you've come to expect from EMS EXPO Events to Firehouse World., Feb. 15-19 in San Diego, Ca.
Other top headlines this week on EMSResponder.com:
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.
