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This Week in EMS: A Recap for July 14 - 20, 2007
Florida was the scene of multiple major emergencies this week when Amtrak trains collided with vehicles in two separate accidents Monday and Tuesday.
On Monday in Lakeland, four people in a car were killed when they apparently ignored crossing barriers and drove into the path of a train carrying 161 passengers.
On Tuesday, just 8 miles away in Plant City, a container truck drove into the path of another passenger train carrying 133 passengers. The driver was going over a private crossing with no signal arm, lights or bells, and was struck as he edged out onto the tracks. The truck driver was killed and eighteen people from the train were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.
To read the full article and view news video and photos, visit Two Days, Two Train Wrecks in Florida.
Also in the news this week, a new concept is drawing attention in the field of air medical rescue -- a compact, unmanned vehicle with fully enclosed spinning blades that are smaller than conventional helicopter rotors. Its creators hope this vehicle will be able to navigate through dense forests, urban centers and combat zones where regular helicopters can not.
Two patients could be loaded onboard, and then once airborne, a medic's voice would be piped in by radio. This lack of onboard medical personnel is likely to raise a lot of questions if the technology gets off the ground.
A prototype is underway, with creators aiming for first flight in 2009.
For more on this technology visit Unmanned Flying Ambulance Prototype Underway.
In national public safety news this week, the House voted on Tuesday to give all first responders the right to collective bargaining, although the legislation would also prevent them from going on strike.
The bill, HR 980, passed with a vote of 314 to 97. It would give public safety officers the right to join unions and bargain over wages, hours and conditions of employment.
There are currently two states, Virginia and North Carolina, that prohibit public safety officers from collective bargaining. Twenty other states don't fully protect collective bargaining rights for firefighters, police officers, corrections officers and emergency medical service workers.
The bill now goes to the Senate. To read more visit House: All First Responders Can Unionize.
In additional national news this week, the government announced that it will distribute nearly $1 billion to states and cities to fix communications problems that still plague rescuers after becoming evident during the Sept. 11 terror attacks and again during Hurricane Katrina.
The grant was announced after a review earlier this year found that of 75 major U.S. cities, only six received a top grade in emergency communications.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the money should get the entire country up to a basic standard of effective emergency communication by 2009 - but only if the local authorities coordinate with each other and avoid turf fights.
For further details including the amounts to be received by each chosen state or city, visit Feds Give $1 Billion to Fix Radio Problems.
Announcement
NAEMT Offers Scholarships to Members
The National Association of EMTs (NAEMT) is now offering a scholarship program to its active dues-paying members. Scholarships are available for the following categories:
- First Responders (to become EMT-Basic): Four scholarships each in the amount of $500
- EMT-Basic (to become EMT-Paramedic): Three scholarships each in the amount of $5,000
- Paramedics (to advance their education in the realm of EMS): Four scholarships each in the amount of $2,000
Applications are now being accepted for the Spring semester. Application deadline is October 1, 2007. Visit www.naemt.org/joinNAEMT/scholarshipinfo.htm for application information and more details.
5th Annual EMS Systems Survey
EMS Magazine is proud to offer the 5th annual comprehensive survey of EMS systems in the United States. Make sure your agency is represented in this important resource. Survey results will be published in the December 2007 Gold Book/Buyer's Guide and are designed to provide an overview of the EMS industry as it exists today across the spectrum of EMS delivery systems. To learn more and respond, visit the 5th Annual EMS Systems Survey page on EMSResponder.com.
Awards
We're getting down to the wire for submissions to EMS Magazine's 2007 EMS Magazine/National Association of EMTs Gold Service Award. Nominations must be received by August 1, 2007. The Gold Service Award honors both a paid and a volunteer service each year for dedication, teamwork and commitment to EMS. For contest rules and submissions, go to EMSResponder.com/goldaward.
EMSResponder.com Poll
The latest poll asks for your opinion on the concept of an unmanned air rescue vehicle.
Visit the poll on the lower right side of EMSResponder.com to participate.
Other top headlines this week on EMSResponder.com:
