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NAEMSP Releases Ambulance Safety Data

New research published today in the journal of the National Association of EMS Physicians, Prehospital Emergency Care, finds that 74% of EMS worker deaths are transportation-related, and suggests that these numbers could be reduced if citizens yield to ambulances, and EMS personnel embrace strategies that allow them to remain seated and restrained in the back of the ambulance, among other findings.

Proposed Bill Would Extend Paramedic Death Benefits

Vermont's two U.S. senators are sponsoring legislation that would extend death benefits to relatives of paramedics who work for nonprofit ambulance services and are killed in the line of duty.

Heart Attack Claims North Dakota EMT

The National EMS Memorial Service has announced the line of duty death of EMT Daryl Lahren of Kindred Ambulance in Kindred, North Dakota.

Lahren, 47, reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack after returning to base from a medical call June 25, 2009.

Tulsa Turns to Smaller Medical Response Trucks

The Tulsa Fire Department is giving the green light to a program that uses smaller, more nimble vehicles to improve its response to medical emergencies, officials said.

Medics at two of Tulsa's busiest fire stations will use new Advanced Life Support Squad vehicles starting Wednesday. The rigs are built on pickup frames, Capt. Michael Baker said.

Online Exclusive: Point of View

When Dive Teams Clash

In this guest editorial, Mark Phillips discusses how public safety agencies need to work together ahead of time to ensure a successful response to calls: "The other day I read an article about two dive teams whose members argued over who was going to perform a body recovery. The initial responders were a fire department team, and the follow-up team was from the local sheriff's office. A person had drowned, and a witness called 9-1-1. The fire department team responded with divers, boats and a sonar system. They searched the area for almost an hour without success. Then the sonar operator got a hit and the team was moving to the location to dive when members of the sheriff's office stepped in and told them to stop. An hour had passed and rescue was not possible, they said, so the incident was now a crime scene, and their divers needed to take over. This was not a jurisdictional battle like we've seen when fire department and police dive teams both respond to a 9-1-1 call and argue about who gets to dive. This event involved two identified dive teams with recognized responsibilities: The fire department team was responsible for rescue, and the sheriff's team was responsible for crime scenes. On the surface that sounds reasonable. But in action, it's trouble waiting to happen."

Resource Guide:

Rural EMS Response

This month's Resource Guide focuses on the challenges facing rural EMS systems and spotlights some of the best practices being implemented nationwide.

Industry News:

Capnography Presentation Wins First Place at Annual Conference

Oridion Systems Ltd. has announced that a medical research presentation about the value of using capnography during CPR was awarded first place during the 21st Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES) Conference held in Benidorm, Spain in early June. The study showed that capnography can improve patient safety during prehospital CPR.

Featured Podcast:

Air Medical Safety Update

Air medical safety expert Bryan Bledsoe, DO, FACEP, EMT-P, provides news and views on current efforts to improve helicopter EMS safety following the tragic spike last year in crashes and fatalities.

For additional content on air medical issues, see Flight Plans.

Featured Job:

EMS Educator, Lancaster, CA

Paramedic Program Director/Instructor. Five years experience as a paramedic or Registered Nurse. Full time, benefits and paid vacation.

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:

Billy Jean, CPR and 911

Dragonmedic says: Stop and think for a moment about the EMS crew responding on the Michael Jackson call. Talk about stress! Not only dealing with the stress of the call, but now you add the media, bystanders, maybe fans. And then all that will come after the call...the conspiracy theories, the investigations. Just another example of when the call goes out, you really have no idea what you're about to get into.

Follow the link to read more, or browse other topics at www.emsresponder.com/forums.

Poll Question:

This week, we ask our readers: Does your agency allow you to remove Taser probes in the field?

Reminders:

Announcing the Robert G. Nixon Memorial Foundation EMS EXPO Scholarship

The Robert G. Nixon Memorial Foundation was created to provide access to educational opportunities for deserving EMS professionals. The deadline for applications is August 3.

SafetyCare Accepting Nominations to Honor Extraordinary EMT with Annual Award

SafetyCare, a national leader in Personal Emergency Response Systems, is seeking nominees for the third annual Jack and Rosemary Gulati SafetyCare Awards. Deadline for nominations is July 31.

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:

• Teens Run Kentucky Ambulance Off Road
• Rates Rise for Obese Kansas Patients
• Tennessee Boy Allegedly Steals from EMS as Mom Treated
• Ohio Bill Would Have EMTs Take Blood
• Ambulance Collides Enroute to Minneapolis Ambulance Crash

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.