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This Week in EMS: Massacres in Alabama and Germany
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Shooting Spree Kills 10, Stuns South Alabama
A shooting spree Tuesday left 10 people dead across two Alabama counties, including the wife and daughter of one of the responding police officers. The victims also included the gunman's mother and four other relatives.
One child at the scene, a 4-month old-girl, was rescued and was scheduled for surgery at a hospital in Pensacola, Fla. for a wound to the leg caused by either a bullet or shrapnel.
16 Dead in Germany School Massacre
In a second massacre this week, a teenager in Germany opened fire at his former high school, targeting mostly women and killing a total of 15 people. The 17-year-old gunman was then also killed during a shootout with police.
Click above for details and follow the related links for EMS Magazine features on responding to school emergencies.
Indiana Rescuer Gets Brief With Obama
Instead of simply complaining about the nation's crippling health care issues, this Indiana firefighter/EMT decided to get involved. Travis Ulerick organized a town meeting last year which attracted federal health officials. As a result, he was called upon by President Obama to attend last week's White House forum on health care reform.
Click above to read this EMSResponder.com news exclusive.
Enhancements Ahead for Maryland Medevacs
Following scrutiny of Maryland's premier Medevac program - and a panel's conclusions in support of the system - lawmakers are recommending numerous enhancements.
These include safety upgrades, fleet purchases, maintenance upgrades, additional funding, legislative oversight and further study. Click for details on this EMSResponder.com news exclusive.
Researchers: Social Networking Sites Critical in Disaster Situations
Emergency managers report that social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are changing the way information is distributed, and that specialists "risk irrelevance" if they don't embrace it.
For one example, Boulder County in Colorado used its Twitter account extensively after a major fire in January. "By the end of that fire we had 100 new followers that were following us on Twitter and other organizations were re-tweeting us, including FEMA," said Boulder County Commission spokeswoman Patricia Demchak. FEMA also has started its own YouTube channel.
Industry News:
Defibrillators Recalled After Reported Incidents
Welch Allyn is recalling about 14,000 external defibrillators after 39 reported incidents, including two that involved patient deaths.
The recall, announced Tuesday, involves 14,054 AED 10 and MRL JumpStart external defibrillators made between Oct. 3, 2002, and Jan. 25, 2007. The Beaverton, Ore., company says there is a remote chance the devices may produce low-energy shock, shutdown unexpectedly or be susceptible to electromagnetic noise interference.
Featured Podcast:
Central Florida EMS instructor Rod McGinnis discusses maintaining an emotional separation between home and work life, and how your relationship with your EMS partner plays an important role.
Online Exclusive:
Physicians Seek Recognition for EMS as Subspecialty of Emergency Medicine
As announced in this month's issue of EMS Magazine, the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) along with the American College of Emergency Physicians have formally applied to the American Board of Emergency Medicine for EMS to be recognized as a true subspecialty of emergency medicine.
This will be the second appeal in two decades, but the feeling among physicians in the EMS community is that the time is right. EMSResponder.com spoke with NAEMSP president Ted Delbridge to learn more about this effort.
Education Feature:
"Textbook knowledge and a professional credential do not automatically translate into the ability to function and make decisions in the field," writes West Virginia EMS instructor Brian Potter.
Brian details three key ways in which providers can work to grow and develop professionally: gaining experience in-the-field; taking the initiative to continue learning new things; and professional interaction.
Featured Job:
Director of Emergency Medical Services - CCA, Aurora, CO
"The Community College of Aurora provides lifelong educational opportunities, prepares the current and future workforce, and promotes excellence in teaching, learning and service to our diverse community." Click above for details and visit www.EMSResponder.com/jobs for additional listings.
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Featured Forum Thread:
"In our service, we have always taken pride in the quality of our medics and our freedom to treat patients based on our assessment," writes FFMedic13. "...I never really understood how a paramedic could be considered a cookbook medic. Unfortunately now I do. Our new medical director wants us to be just that."
Follow the link to read more, or browse other topics at www.emsresponder.com/forums.
Poll Question:
Following this week's report on the growth of social networking sites in disaster communication, we're asking, Do you use any online social networking sites?
Click above to vote!
Reminders:
Call for Nominations: 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 April 3, 2009.
Other top headlines this week on EMSResponder.com:
- North Dakota Ambulance Crash Kills Patient
- NJ EMTs in Running for 'America's Most Wanted' Award
- Car Slams into Milwaukee Ambulance
- Ham Radio Use Revived for Emergency Operations
- Fumes Force 500 to Evacuate Denver Hospital
- Pa. Kennel Explosion Kills Dogs, Injures Rescuers
- Maryland Woman Injured in Sex Toy Mishap
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.
