News

This Week in EMS: 5 Line-of-Duty Deaths

HEATHER CASPI, Editor

10/16/2008

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A total of 5 EMS line-of-duty deaths were reported this week as a result of helicopter incidents in Arizona and Illinois, and a paramedic who was found dead at work in Maryland.

Three air medical crew members - and their one-year-old patient - were killed late Wednesday when their helicopter clipped a radio tower support wire, and crashed in Aurora, Illinois.

In another medical helicopter tragedy this week, an Arizona paramedic was killed Monday when he was struck by a rotor blade during a mountain rescue.

Officer Bruce Harrolle, 36, was a member of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. He was helping to rescue two hikers near Sedona when the accident occurred.

Read more at Arizona Medic Killed by Rotor Blade.

Also this week, a fifth line-of-duty death was reported when a Baltimore County, Maryland paramedic died at a fire/EMS station late Wednesday while working as a district EMS supervisor.

He was found by a coworker Thursday morning, and authorities are investigating the cause of his death.

For further details visit: Maryland Firefighter/Paramedic Found Dead in Station.

Featured Coverage: EMS EXPO 2008

"Johnny Gage" Delights Crowd at EMS EXPO

Thousands rose to their feet and applauded Wednesday morning when Randolph Mantooth, aka Johnny Gage, of the hit 70s television show "Emergency!" stepped up to address those attending the 20th annual EMS EXPO.

He discussed the early history of EMS and how "Emergency!" fit into the picture. At the time, he said, he had no idea just how much it would make an impact on the real world.

Report from EMS EXPO: Congressional EMS Caucus Takes Form

To date, 10 Congressmen have joined the new caucus, and there's a campaign underway to recruit others. It's essential that a caucus be established because EMS issues are handled by so many different committees in Congress, said Lisa Meyer of Cornerstone Government Affairs, an EMS lobbying organization. "The louder our voice, the better our chances," she said.

EMS EXPO: Safety, Lack of Data Concern NAEMT

Scene safety, fitness and ambulance design are just some of the issues being addressed by a committee of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT).

An outline for an EMS Safety Officer course was presented Monday by the NAEMT health and safety committee during the co-located EMS EXPO/NAEMT Annual Meeting.

Featured Job: Clinical Coordinator -- UMBC, Baltimore, MD

The Department of Emergency Health Services at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is currently searching for a permanent clinical coordinator.

Click for details and visit www.EMSResponder.com/jobs for additional listings including:

Featured Forum Thread:

Single Responders - stop the clock or ALS care?

Forum member "Melbourne MICA" asks, "Do you guys here in the US believe single responders are valuable for providing ALS care?"

Click above to read the feedback, or browse other discussions at www.emsresponder.com/forums.

Poll Question:

Do you ever take interest in national EMS lobbying and legislative issues?

Click to participate, and view previous polls at www.EMSResponder.com/polls.

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.