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This Week in EMS: 3 Dead in Hospital Shooting
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3 Dead in California Hospital Shooting
The public shootings continued this week with a new incident -- this time at a California hospital. The shooter and his victims all worked at a pharmacy in Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, 25 miles south of Los Angeles.
"This is a trend of active shooters that you have seen nationwide," Police Chief Anthony Batts said at a news conference. "This is becoming a national trend, probably because of the tension that's going on in our society today." The gunman killed himself after shooting two colleagues.
Aftershocks Continue in Italy; Death Toll at 294
Aftershocks following last week's devastating earthquake in Italy continued to rock the region this week as survivors and rescuers attempted to resume order. Since the 6.3-magnitude quake struck April 6, more than 800 temblors have been recorded.
According to the latest reports, the death toll is up to at least 294 people with 30 missing and 1,000 injured. Reports say 40,000 have been left homeless, and more than 30 tent cities have been erected as officials attempt to provide shelter, supplies and medical aid.
Industry News
Application Period Opens: Fiscal Year 2009 Assistance to Firefighter Grants
The AFG awards will ultimately provide approximately $510 million to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations to purchase or receive training, conduct first responder health and safety programs, and buy equipment and response vehicles.
The application period opened this Wednesday, April 15 and applications must be received by Wednesday, May 20, 2009.
Online Exclusive:
California Emergency Services and Homeland Security Merger Underway
California is in the process of merging its Office of Emergency Services (OES) and Office of Homeland Security (OHS) into a new cabinet-level California Emergency Management Agency dubbed "Cal EMA." A 2008 bill gives the merged agency the responsibility of overseeing and coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery and homeland security activities in the state.
Visit www.EMSResponder.com/resources for more on this month's featured topic, MCI response.
Featured Podcast:
Cynthia Osborne tells of her journey in becoming a female medic in the early days of EMS in Chicago, and recounts the changes she has seen since. This "Open Airways" podcast series is produced by FISDAP with the support of EMSResponder.com.
Featured Column:
"First up is Craig Hartpence's novel ADRENALINE JUNKIES: A Paramedic Nightmare, in which medic Holt's career is told through a series of flashbacks as he lays wounded and is being treated by his own system." Norm Rooker shares the latest and greatest finds in EMS related reading.
Featured Job:
Executive Director - LeFlore County, OK
"The incumbent for this position must be outgoing with excellent interpersonal skills as well as written skills, moral and business character above reproach, currently licensed as a paramedic with a minimum of 10-years service that demonstrates ever increasing supervisory responsibilities."
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:
Forum user "firemedickyle" writes, "Looking for any input regarding the Ford F450'S chasis for an ambulance.... If anybody has any input or concerns regarding these areas..."
Follow the link to read more, or browse other topics at www.emsresponder.com/forums.
Poll Question:
Have you ever suspected a fellow EMS student or provider of cheating to gain credentials or CEUs?
Reminders:
EMSResponder.com is now on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook
Check out our Twitter feeds at twitter.com/EMSRNews and twitter.com/EMSRTraining. Also visit our LinkedIn group and our Facebook page.
Other top headlines this week on EMSResponder.com:
- Crew Made Fatal Mistake on Michigan Med Plane
- Cleveland Responder Charged in Stolen Exam Case
- EMS Officials Debate Giving 911 Instructions for EpiPens
- Florida Responders Describe Boat Crash as War Zone
- Florida Responder: Car Crash Worst I've Ever Seen
- Texas Ambulance Used in Immigrant Smuggling Scheme
- Michigan Students Invent CPR-Assist Mattress
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.
