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This Week in EMS: Hurricane Gustav
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A major EMS operation has been underway in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region this week as a result of Hurricane Gustav. Providers from across the country have assisted with the evacuation, repopulation and increased medical calls.
EMS operations as well as other city services stopped Monday morning when 45 mph sustainable winds occurred, said Jeb Tate, New Orleans EMS spokesman, and they resumed service about 4 p.m. after Gustav moved out.
View the latest EMSResponder.com report and its related links, EMS Ready as New Orleans Residents Return.
The EMS industry lost another flight crew this week when an Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter went down near Greensburg, Indiana. All three crew members were killed in the Sunday afternoon crash: pilot Roger Warren, flight nurse Sandra Pearson and flight paramedic Wade Weston.
The crew, based in Rushville, was leaving a fundraiser at the Burney Fire Department and did not have a patient onboard, officials said. It was reported that the main rotor came off before the crash.
Read the details at Indiana Medical Helicopter Explodes in Crash; 3 Killed.
Industry News:
The EMS Diversity in America Study Tour is calling for registrations ASAP in order for participants to secure early bird rates for accommodations during the week-long event. The members signed up so far are a diverse group from the U.S. and abroad. The tour will travel the Southwest U.S. to study local EMS systems from Oct. 7-14, ending at EMS EXPO in Las Vegas. Participants will receive a complimentary 3-day Conference Program pass and 30 CEUs.
To learn more visit www.worldemstour.ncemsi.org, and "meet" tour guide Neil Kirby by listening to his podcast on EMSResponder.com.
New Survey: The Top 20 Developments in EMS
EMS Magazine asked its editorial advisory board to list the top developments in the history of EMS. Here are their suggestions; now we ask you to vote for your top choice in each category. The results will be published in conjunction with EMS EXPO 2008 this October 13-17 in Las Vegas, NV. We thank you for your contribution! Click above to participate.
DHS Adopts Standards for Responders to Hazmat/WMD Incidents
These two NFPA standards set minimum requirements for personnel responding to incidents involving hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction.
EMS Magazine Online Exclusive:
Outside the Boxes: The Importance of Good Documentation
"Documentation is one of the most important things done during and post patient care," writes author Les Allen, FF/EMT-P. "With the narrative being so important, let's take a look at its contents under some different scenarios. Common pieces of information are sometimes left out." This article is a companion piece to the September issue's Advanced Skills Lab.
New Podcast:
Greg Friese, president of Emergency Preparedness Systems LLC, recalls getting on the back of a stranger's snowmobile to reach an injured person. After they took off, Greg realized, "The stench of alcohol on his breath was so strong I almost fell off... and I realized the folly of what I had done in accepting a ride from this fellow." This "Open Airways" podcast is created by Fisdap and EMSResponder.com.
Featured Job:
EMTs and Paramedics -- Cabell County and the city of Huntington, WV
Cabell County EMS is the primary EMS provider in Cabell County and the city of Huntington West Virginia. The service covers approximately 286sq miles and serves a population of 95,000 citizens.
Click for details and visit www.EMSResponder.com/jobs for additional listings including:
- EMTs and Paramedics -- Baytown, Pasadena, Webster and Houston, TX
- Paramedic (EMT-P) -- Mecklenburg County, NC
- Regional Sales Manager, Ambulance Manufacturer -- Van Wert, OH
Featured Forum Thread:
Click this thread for stories regarding run-ins with doctors at emergency scenes. Help or hinderance? Share your experiences. This discussion originally started in 2006 and took off again this week.
Click above to read more, or browse the forums at www.emsresponder.com/forums.
Poll Question:
Following last week's coverage of a Pennsylvania EMS agency planning to have chaplains ride their ambulances, (visit Pennsylvania Ambulances to Offer Spiritual Help) we asked our readers, What do you think of chaplains riding ambulances to support the crews, patients and families?
Click to participate, and view previous polls at www.EMSResponder.com/polls.
Reminders:
5.11 Tactical, EMS EXPO & EMS Magazine Sponsor 2008 Photo Contest
Your photos could be featured in advertising campaigns, marketing materials or EMS Magazine. Entries must be submitted by September 16, 2008.
Call for Registration: EMS EXPO 2008!
Registration is open for EMS EXPO 2008, which takes place October 13-17 in Las Vegas, NV. Register early for the best conference rates and to guarantee your placement.
To submit case studies for possible review in EMS Magazine, e-mail Nancy.Perry@cygnusb2b.com.
Free Poster: Do You Care Enough to ICARE?
A poster is currently in design to illustrate the ICARE principles. To request a free copy, e-mail your name, title, agency name and mailing address to nancy.perry@cygnusb2b.com.
Other top headlines this week on EMSResponder.com:
- Fire Destroys Pennsylvania Ambulance
- Doctor Hits, Kills Pa. Turnpike Biker and Flees Scene
- Medic in 2006 Chopper Crash Calls for More Safety Measures
- Oklahoma Crews Take Extra Precautions on Medical Calls
- Thousands Of Young Children Exposed To Opiates At Home
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.
