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Month in Review: August 2016
EMS World is dedicated to bringing readers the most current and relevant information. At the end of every month, we present the top news stories, videos and most popular social media posts of the month. Here is the month in review for August 2016:
Top news
Toward the beginning of the month, warnings about the danger of a new wave of dangerous drugs began to spread. In Pennsylvania, officials warned about dozens who had died from ingesting Carfentanil and W-18, both synthetically manufactured painkillers. According to an intelligence briefing sent to law enforcement in the area, the drugs are extremely potent and are used to tranquilize elephants. Officials said the use of naloxone is necessary for reviving patients who overdose from these drugs or heroin.
In Louisiana, the New Orleans Emergency Medical Services Foundation donated six active shooter kits to New Orleans EMS. A nearly $24,000 grant from Hermes Beyond the Parade allowed them to purchase the kits. The kits consisted of two level-IV ballistic vests, two ballistic helmets, two “active shooter” bags containing triage supplies and medical supplies and one Cordura litter. The bags were designed by Palmisano and 5.11 Tactical.
On Aug. 9, a search and rescue team member in Calif. was shot. The team was searching for a missing 75-year-old man in Nevada County when shots rang out from the mountainside, and one member of the team was hit by a bullet in the hip. Helicopter crews continued searching the area for the missing man the next day.
A study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine said expanding the responsibilities of nurses in the emergency room can shorten patients’ stays. The study says nurse-driven protocols can shorten the median time to administer some medicine and complete some tests, and the average length of stay was reduced by almost four hours by implementing nurse-driven fractured hip protocols. The study can be found here.
A paramedic in Calif. faced 26 charges this month after being accused of setting off an explosive device in a neighbor’s planter. Police found bomb-making materials inside his home when he was arrested. The 32-year-old was a paramedic with the San Francisco Fire Department, and he had a history of arguments with the neighbor. Other neighbors told police he had left notes on the neighbor’s windshield, broke the windows of their vehicle and slashed their tires.
Top videos
Faces of an Emergency: The Art of EMS—A video compilation of images from DanSun Photo Art show the everyday working life of EMS personnel. The images, some joyful and some distressing, give an honest look at the emotions EMS personnel experience on a daily basis.
Carfentanil Poses Deadly Risks to Both Drug Users, Responders—In Ohio, both paramedics and drug users were warned to be on the lookout for Carfentanil-laced heroin. The drug was said to be 10,000 times more powerful than pure heroin, and officials say the drug can be absorbed through the skim. EMS personnel use gloves when assisting heroin overdose patients, but some police officers or bystanders may not be properly equipped.
Five Dead After Bus Sliced in Half in Calif. Crash—Five people were killed and at least six were flown to hospitals after a bus veered off the highway and hit a pole, slicing in half. Sixteen others were transported to area hospitals. Paramedics treated some patients at the scene. Approximately 30 people were aboard the bus.
N.Y. Firefighter Suspended over Comments Lauding Dallas Cop Killer—Lt. Omar Lanier allegedly called for the deaths of more police officers on his Instagram page. “Hooray for Dallas and the real gangsters who took the shots!” the post read. “It’s time people! Let’s keep it going! No regard for those who have no regard for us! Die for Freedom!”
Ind. Council Approves Raises for Paramedics, EMTs—A common council in Indiana approved raises for paramedics and EMTs. The proposal was unanimously approved and gave the paramedics and EMTs immediate pay increases. Several city EMTs had threatened to leave the department because of low pay, and plan to give them raises last month was turned down by the council.
Top Facebook posts
Convoy of Emergency Vehicles Shuts Down Intersection for Transport of Child—In California, emergency vehicles shut down intersections across the Santa Clara area so an ambulance could transport a baby to the hospital uninterrupted. The baby was feared to have drowned after being found in a backyard pool.
Man Tries to Shame Paramedic on Break—A paramedic in Illinois was on break and leaving a Target department store after getting coffee and school supplies for her child. A man in the parking lot sneered “Looks like you guys are working real hard tonight, right?” The woman turned the situation into a positive, penning a response to the incident in a Facebook post and donating to the Code Green Campaign.
Recognizing Our K9 Colleagues—The Portland Sea Dogs, a minor league baseball team from Maine, allowed Tundra, a North Woods Law K9 to make the ceremonial first pitch at a game on August 17. Tundra is certified in tracking and hasty searches, and has located more than twenty lost victims in her 7-year career.
Casualty Airs Medical Helicopter Episode—Casualty, the longest running emergency medical drama television series in the world, celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. August 27th’s episode featured an air medical helicopter crashing in front of an emergency department.
#IAM911 Movement Aims to Reclassify Dispatchers—The #IAM911 movement wants to reclassify public safety telecommunicators from “clerical” to “protective.” The movement posted a gallery of photos with short stories from dispatchers from all over who are fighting to show how non-clerical their job is.
In memoriam
Larry Mills, 54, of California. Mills was the pilot on a REACH Air Medical plane that crashed while transporting a victim. Mills had 20 years of flying experience, and had been a volunteer first responder for 12 years.
Deborah Kroon, 49, of California. Kroon was a flight nurse on the REACH Air Medical plan that crashed in California. Kroon had spent 25 years as a critical care nurse after moving to the United States from New Zealand. Kroon had been with Cal-Ore Life Flight since 2014.
Michelle Tarwater, 30, of California. Tarwater was a flight paramedic on the REACH Air Medical plan that crashed in California. Tarwater was one of the first in the region to receive NREMT-P certification. She had been with Cal-Ore Life Flight since 2011.
Spencer Chauvin, 36, of Louisiana. Chauvin died when, while working at the scene of an unrelated crash, a party bus driven by a unlicensed driver struck a vehicle near Chauvin and two others. Chauvin was the fire chief at St. John Parish. Chauvin had previously served as an EMT in Acadia Parish. The driver of the bus has been charged with negligent homicide.
