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Month in Review: September 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 September 2016:
Top News
In Mass., a mother overdosed while at a Family Dollar store with her child. In a video captured by an onlooker, the child can be seen pulling at the mother and crying as she lies unconscious on the floor of the store. Paramedics arrived shortly after and administered two doses of Narcan to revive the woman. While searching for identification, police found drug paraphernalia in the woman’s diaper bag.
After being transported to a hospital in a fire truck, a four-month-old Ga. girl died. The infant was transported to Midtown Medical Center in a fire truck because a Columbus Fire and EMS ambulance was not immediately available. The baby had been put down for a nap and about an hour and half later was found unresponsive. The parents called 9-1-1, and paramedics performed CPR for two minutes on-scene before transporting her. Columbus Fire & EMS Assistant Chief Robert Futrell said it was extremely rare for a patient to be transported on a fire truck.
A police official in Conn. said members of a SWAT team were sickened from drug exposure. Eleven members of the team were sickened when they entered a drug house and seized nearly 50,000 bags of heroin. Some of the members had sore throats, headaches and nausea, which are all classic symptoms of airborne heroin/fentanyl exposure, the deputy chief said. Members of the team were taken to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, where they were treated and released.
A Dallas medical director helped roll out public access trauma kits to help civilians treat gunshot wounds and other serious injuries until professionals arrive. The kits include gloves, gauze and tourniquets. The police department already uses the kits, but the rise in active shooter situations prompted the city to provide the kits to the public as well. “Hemmorhage control is the CPR of the 21st century,” said Dr. Alex Eastman, medical director and chief surgeon at Parkland’s Rees-Jones Trauma Center.
An EMS provider in Tenn. was stabbed in the neck while responding to a call. After a call came in for a vagrant on campus, first responders found the person and were asking about their medical state. The person then used keys to stab an EMS provider in the neck. The employee was taken to a hospital and received 14 stitches, but then returned to finish their shift.
Top Videos
Ohio Police Officers Revive Mother With 16 Doses of Naloxone—A mother in Ohio passed out in the trunk of her car and required 16 doses of naloxone to be revived. The woman had her two children with her in the backseat of the car.
Ohio Police Post Photo of Couple Who Overdosed With Child in the Car—Ohio police posted a photo of two adults who police believed had overdosed on heroin in their car. Their child can be seen in the backseat of the car. The police released the shocking photo to reveal the dark side of drugs.
Video Shows Altercation Between Woman, Pa. EMT—A video from Pennsylvania shows a woman approaching the driver of an ambulance, claiming her SUV had been hit by the ambulance. The woman then begins to hit the EMT in the head and shoulders.
Texas Man Killed After Jumping From Ambulance—Police said a 24-year-old was under an emergency detention order and being transported to University Behavioral Health Center when he unbuckled himself from a gurney and jumped onto the Interstate. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Video Discusses Dangers Fentanyl Poses to Responders—The Royal Canadian Mounted Police released a video highlighting the dangers of fentanyl and other opioids for first responders. The video features real-life stories from the RCMP and responders who came into contact with the drug.
Top Facebook posts
Stop the Bleed, Save a Life—The American College of Surgeons and Hartford Consensus launched a new website that aims to provide a one-stop online resource for users to learn about bleeding control. The site features printable resources, news stories, instructional videos and more.
Randolph Mantooth Discusses Becoming a Real Paramedic—Actor Randolph Mantooth turned 71 this month. In an interview on his role in “Emergency!,” Mantooth if he’s tired of being recognized for doing the show.
Ohio Couple Shown Overdosed in Their Car—Ohio police released a photo of a couple who had apparently overdosed in their car with their child in the backseat. The police said they showed the photo because they “feel it necessary to show the other side of this horrible drug.”
Marine Corps Dog Receives Award for Service—A throwback to April, when Lucca, a U.S. Marine Corps dog who had lost a leg in Afghanistan, was honored with the PDSA Dickin Medal. The medal is the highest award any animal can receive.
Ohio Officers Revive Mother With 16 Doses of Naloxone—Police officers in Ohio said a woman had passed out in her car and had to be revived with 16 doses of naloxone. The woman had two children in the backseat of her car at the time.
In Memoriam
Sandra Cline, 45, of Ohio. Cline was killed on September 23 after an SUV ran a stop sign and crashed into her ambulance. Cline was transporting a patient when the other vehicle crashed into the ambulance, causing it to overturn. Cline had been a paramedic for more than 25 years and had three children.
Sean McMullin, 46, of Missouri. McMullin was found unresponsive in the station on September 24. Members of McMullin’s crew began lifesaving measures, but they were unable to revive him. McMullin had been a member of West County EMS & Fire for 14 years, and he left behind a wife and four children. The case is being investigated as a suicide.
Michael Fahy, 44, of New York. Fahy was a battalion chief with FDNY, and he was described as a rising star in the organization. He was killed on September 27 while directing operations from the street outside of a suspected drug house. The house exploded, and Fahy was killed by a falling piece of debris. Fahy had been with FDNY for 17 years, and left behind a wife and three children.
