News

This Week in EMS: CPR and AED Awareness

HEATHER CASPI, Editor

06/04/2009

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This week was the second annual National CPR & AED Awareness Week, designated by Congress to encourage states, cities and towns to establish programs to provide CPR and AED training to the public. EMS agencies can also take this time to plan refresher training and to inspect all AED equipment.

For additional cardiac content related to CPR/AED Week and this month's issue of EMS Magazine, visit the new EMSResponder.com Cardiac Resource Guide.

At Least 20 Injured After Louisville Zoo Train Derails

Twenty people were taken to hospitals Monday, including a number of children, after a small train at the Louisville, Kentucky Zoo derailed. The open-air, no-seatbelt train is pulled by a small engine around the zoo property, and was carrying about 30 passengers when the incident occurred.

There were possibly two serious injuries, but no one was in critical shape, said Dr. Neal Richmond, CEO and medical director of Louisville Metro EMS.

Florida Paramedic Team Wins International Competition

Flagler County's Paramedic Competition Team has won first place in an international competition at Rallye Rejviz 2009 in the Czech Republic, a three-day EMS competition. There were 98 teams participating in the event.

The Flagler County team has been entering and winning competitions for more than a year. They reportedly have sponsors that pay for the travel and hotel stays, and they use the skills they learn in competition to provide extensive EMS training to responders throughout Flagler County.

Industry News

Announcing the Robert G. Nixon Memorial Foundation EMS EXPO Scholarship

Throughout his 30-year EMS career, Robert Nixon, MBA, EMT-P, dedicated himself to the education of EMS professionals. He was an acclaimed author, respected speaker, mentor and EMS Magazine advisory board member. Sadly, in June 2008, Bob passed away after losing his battle with skin cancer.

To honor his legacy, his family created The Robert G. Nixon Memorial Foundation to provide access to educational opportunities for deserving EMS professionals. Applications are now being accepted

Featured Podcast:

Continuing Education Podcast: Advances in ACLS and CPR

For the first time in EMS education, we bring you a podcast lecture available for continuing education credit. This lesson by national EMS educator Keith Wesley, MD, is adapted from his EMS Expo presentation. After listening, look for the quiz to be featured at www.rapidce.com to earn .5 CE hours.

Education Feature:

WMD EMS Training Offers Hands-On Approach to Response Role

The Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) features a three-day EMS course that addresses the effects of chemical and biological agents, including radiation and explosives injuries. Successful completion of the training includes 2.4 Continuing Education Units (CEU).

CDP training for state, local, and tribal responders is fully funded by FEMA, a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Round-trip air and ground transportation, lodging, and meals are provided at no cost to responders or their agency or jurisdiction.

Featured Job:

Program Coordinator -- Los Angeles, California

"The UCLA Center for Prehospital Care is just one of three centers of its kind in the nation, and the leading emergency and prehospital academic center on the West Coast. We are currently seeking a full-time EMT Program Coordinator to complement our existing staff and faculty."

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

Sign up here to receive the new EMS Jobs e-newsletter.

Featured Forum Thread:

S.a.l.t.

"I was reading the May issue of EMS Responder and came across the S.A.L.T. (supraglottic airway laryngopharyngeal tube) from MDI; has anyone used this device?"

Follow the link to read more, or browse other topics at www.emsresponder.com/forums.

Poll Question:

Would you ever enter an EMS competition?

Reminders:

SafetyCare Accepting Nominations to Honor Extraordinary EMT with Annual Award

SafetyCare, a national leader in Personal Emergency Response Systems, is seeking nominees for the third-annual Jack and Rosemary Gulati SafetyCare Awards. Deadline for nominations is July 31.

EMS EXPO Announces Photo Contest for 2009

For the second year, EMS EXPO is looking for photos of EMS/rescue/fire professionals in the field, at training events or in the workplace. Photos must be received by September 18, 2009

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.