Month in Review: July 2016

EMS World is dedicated to bringing our readers the most current and relevant information. At the end of every month, we will present the top news stories, videos and most popular social media posts of the month. Here is the month in review for July 2016:

Top News

In a Pa. hospital, a study preceded a change in uniform for nurses and other frontline employees. Patients were surveyed on their perceptions of professionalism based on clothing, jewelry and more, and the authors of the study used the evidence to determine how the nurses and other staff should dress. The nurses began wearing pewter gray and white scrub uniforms with the hospital’s logo and “Registered Nurse” embroidered on the front.

Two Fla. paramedics were charged after participating in a “selfie war.” The pair took photos with sometimes-unknowing patients and sent them back and forth to each other. Some of the photos included unconscious patients, and one of the pair is charged with battery for holding open an unconscious patient’s eyelid. One of the two allegedly also posed with an elderly woman with her breast exposed. The initial investigation found the pair took photos with 36 patients without consent.

A firefighter in S.C. was fired after making inappropriate comments on Facebook about a protest held by Black Lives Matter. Capt. Jimmy Morris was fired after he posted “Idiots shutting down I-126. Better not be there when I get off work or there is gonna be some run over dumb asses.” Morris made another similar post about an hour later. The Columbia fire chief said the comments do not represent the views of the fire department or the city of Columbia.

In a similar incident, a Mass. firefighter was fired after making racial comments on Facebook. After a house party drew more than 1,000 guests, Kyle Greiner, a volunteer firefighter, posted “I can see the next fire call will be this house on fire and I’ll make sure I can’t find the hydrant lol.” A later post said he wanted “no more house party’s with black Boston people.” The city’s fire chief said he was alarmed by the comment, and Greiner was fired.

Some states began tracking physical and verbal assaults on healthcare personnel in an attempt to stop these types of incidents. Nearly 56% of emergency room nurses surveyed said they faced physical of verbal violence in the week prior to the survey, and more than 75% of emergency room physicians experience at least one incident of violence each year according to Jay Falk, an emergency room doctor in Florida. Eighteen states since 2012 have taken steps to toughen penalties for the people who become violent, and another 12 are looking at other measures.

Top Videos

Inmates in a Texas Prison Break Free to Save Jailer—At least eight prisoners were behind a locked door when a jailer on the other side of the door began suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. The inmates managed to break out of the room and helped save him.

Mich. Agency Releases Video of Ambulance Destroyed in Crash—The ambulance was hit by a sedan, and the patient compartment was completely destroyed. The agency wanted to share the video to raise awareness about ambulance and EMS professional safety and to provide information and data to help improve the safety of ambulances.

OSHA Cites Ill. Ambulance Service With Two Dozen Violations—Altamont Ambulance Service was cited with two dozen violations by OSHA. The fines for the violations totaled nearly $300,000.

Firefighter Profiled in Jockey Ad Campaign—Lisa Cusimano was profiled by Jockey International for their “Show ‘Em What’s Underneath” advertising campaign. Cusimano discussed wanting to be a firefighter after watching her father and two brothers become firefighers as well. The campaign is designed to celebrate individuality.

Texas Agency’s “Am-Bus” Helps Save Nine Prisoners—Austin-Travis County EMS treated nine prisoners who had been onboard when the van’s air conditioning broke and several prisoners suffered heat-related illness. The “Am-Bus” was designed to help treat and transport prisoners.

Top Facebook posts

Saved by the Belt!—A photo shows a New Orleans Emergency Medical Services ambulance destroyed after a crash with an impaired and unrestrained driver. The EMS personnel were recognized for proper seat belt usage, as all members of the crew survived the crash.

A Paramedic’s Plea—An anonymous paramedic posted a harrowing plea with graphic photos hoping to end the violence plaguing America. In the post, the paramedic details what it’s like responding to a bloody, violent scene and the toll it takes.

Inmates Break Free to Help Officer Who Suffered Cardiac Arrest—The officer is alive and well after the inmates put themselves at risk breaking through a locked door to help him. The entire event was caught on video.

Mich. Agency Releases Video of Ambulance Destroyed in Crash—The agency shared the video of the ambulance to raise awareness about ambulance and provider safety issues. The ambulance was destroyed after a car crashed into it.

Your EMS Training Day—A video demonstrates Skedco’s HydraSim Trauma Bleeding Simulation System coupled with Techline Trauma’s packable gunshot wound to the groin.