News

This Week in EMS: Eight Killed in N.C. Nursing Home Shooting

HEATHER CASPI, Editor

04/02/2009

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Eight Killed in N.C. Nursing Home Shooting

A gunman burst into a North Carolina nursing home Sunday and killed seven residents and one nurse before he was apprehended by a police officer. Three others were injured including the officer who stopped the attack.

The incident follows other recent mass shootings in Alabama and California, bringing the combined death toll to 22 in the past month.

Fargo Resisted FEMA Recommendation to Evacuate

With record floodwaters rising fast last week, Fargo officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency faced the agonizing decision of whether to order a mandatory evacuation of the city. FEMA pushed for evacuation while city officials chose to stay and fight the Red River.

The debate provides an interesting example for emergency officials likely to face such endlessly second-guessed decisions.

News Exclusive:

Vice President to Speak at CFSI Dinner

Vice President Joe Biden was set to address thousands of firefighters, rescue and EMS personnel Thursday night at the Congressional Fire Services Institute's annual dinner in D.C. About 2,000 responders are in the nation's capital to hear about the industry's hot button issues, to learn what they can do to promote them, to attend various sessions dealing with the important topics, and often to meet their representatives on Capitol Hill.

Industry News:

EMSResponder.com Is Now On Twitter

Check out our feeds for News at twitter.com/EMSRNews and Training at twitter.com/EMSRTraining. Sign in to your Twitter account to follow these feeds via mobile texting, instant message, or the web.

Special Feature:

The EMSResponder.com MCI Resource Guide

In coordination with the April issue of EMS Magazine, EMSResponder.com presents the Mass Casualty Incident Resource Guide. Click for an entire selection of online-only magazine supplements and related MCI features including multimedia content and the industry's only themed crossword puzzle. Check it out and let us know what you think!

MCI Featured Article:

Disaster Teams Offer Special Challenge for First Responders

When tragedy strikes, it's not just local responders who are poised and ready for action. Nationwide, there are highly specialized teams made up of doctors, nurses and EMTs ready to swoop in and provide additional support to the sick and injured. In this EMSResponder.com spotlight report, we examine Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, otherwise known as DMATs,

MCI Featured Column:

Mass Shooting/Active Shooter First Responder Awareness

Following the several recent mass shootings in the U.S., including this week's incident that resulted in eight fatalities at a North Carolina nursing home, emergency management expert August Vernon writes, "Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS and Emergency Management must adapt to the changes in society so that appropriate delivery of emergency services is ensured in a crisis." Click to view his response sheet.

Featured Job:

Various Positions -- MedStar EMS

"MedStar EMS is the exclusive 911 provider for Fort Worth, Texas, and 14 other surrounding cities. MedStar offers an excellent opportunity for professional growth and advancement in a high performance EMS system."

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:

Intranasal drug protocol

User 52Bravo from Greenland writes, "Can someone fill me in on doses and time to effect, and also what drug you have used, with good effect?"

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

Poll Question:

Does your agency or department ever apply for grant money?

Click to vote!

Reminders:

Due Today: Nominations for Heart Safe Community and STEMI Awards

Physio-Control and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), EMS Section, will sponsor three awards to recognize Fire EMS Systems that are helping their communities be more Heart Safe. The application deadline is today, April 3, 2009.

EMSResponder.com Joins LinkedIn Professional Network

EMSResponder.com has a new group on the LinkedIn professional network. Join to connect with other EMS Magazine and EMSResponder.com readers, and also check out our growing group on Facebook.

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.