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This Week in EMS: A Recap for April 21 - 27, 2007
Following the tragic events last week at Virginia Tech, where 32 people were killed in the deadliest shooting rampage in U.S. history, a Virginia rescue squad learned that one of their own was among the victims.
The Isle of Wight Volunteer Rescue Squad is mourning the death of Nicole White, a 20-year-old volunteer EMT who was also an International Studies student at Virginia Tech.
To read about more about Nicole visit the EMSResponder.com article, Rescue Squad Mourns Member Slain at Virginia Tech. Follow the related links for more on the rescue squad and additional local news coverage.
In other tragic EMS news this week, a Massachusetts EMT and patient were killed, and a second EMT was injured when their ambulance lost control during a transport.
It was not immediately clear what had caused the ambulance to lose control and veer off the road into a barn-style garage.
To read the article visit Massachusetts EMT, Patient Killed in Crash.
In a second line of duty death this week, a Birmingham, Alabama EMS Captain died during the department's annual fitness check.
Captain Billy A. Gafford was walking around the track of the University of Alabama-Birmingham at approximately 2:30 p.m. before collapsing, and was treated by fire-paramedics on the scene. They attempted to revive Gafford, but he was pronounced dead a short time later at UAB Hospital.
For the full EMSResponder.com article, visit Alabama EMS Captain Collapses, Dies On Duty.
In other major EMS news this week, a Kentucky rescuer was attacked and robbed in her ambulance by men seeking drugs.
According to the local news report, the men forced their way into the ambulance as it sat outside an EMS standby station at the Bullitt County Fairgrounds, and then demanded narcotics. They left the EMT with a dislocated jaw, broken ribs, and lacerations from a knife before leaving with a few boxes of standard medicines.
For more details on this disturbing story, visit the full article, Robbers Brutalize Kentucky Ambulance Crew Member.
Unfortunately, this incident was one of several instances of violence against EMS workers reported recently. Also in the news this week were the headlines, Pennsylvania Man Accused of Punching Two EMTs, New Hampshire Man Charged with Pulling Knife on Paramedic, and last week's Man Attacks Cleveland Emergency Workers With Bat.
Hopefully these reports are a coincidence and not an indication of a rising level of violence toward EMS workers in the U.S., as has been a major issue in some areas of the UK. One UK ambulance service recently resorted to drawing up a blacklist of addresses with violent patients, as reported in the article, UK Ambulance Service Draws Up Violence Blacklist.
News You Can Use
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is now accepting applications from emergency response agencies for its 2007 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP), which will award approximately $33.7 million in equipment and equipment training this year. The application submission period is open from April 25 through May 29.
For more information on program eligibility and how to apply, visit Application Period Opens for DHS's 2007 CEDAP Grants.
In anticipation of going fully operational in a few weeks, the National EMS Museum Foundation's Virtual Museum is open for the first time to visitors seeking a sneak peek.
To find out more about the status of this online museum project, and how you can get involved, read the letter from Museum Director Katharine P. Rickey, Letter: National EMS Museum Foundation Welcomes Visitors to a Sneak Peek at the Virtual Museum.
Website Update:
If you have not already done so, please take the time to complete the full EMS Magazine Ambulance Safety Survey. The June issue will feature several articles on issues in ambulance safety, and readers are invited to participate in this short survey so that we can gauge the most important ambulance safety issues.
Reminders:
Applications are due by May 4, 2007 for the Department of Homeland Security's 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grants program, which will award approximately $492.3 million this year to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations.
For more information visit: Application Period Opens for Federal Fire and EMS Grants.
The 15th annual National EMS Memorial Service will be held in Roanoke, Virginia on May 26. For memorial details, visit the article: Honorees Announced for the 2007 National EMS Memorial Service.
Nominations continue to be accepted for EMS Magazine's 22nd Annual EMT/Paramedic of the Year Award, sponsored by Braun Industries and ZOLL Medical Corporation. Nominations must be received by July 2, 2007.
For full contest rules and instructions please visit www.emsresponder.com/paramedic.
Other top headlines this week on EMSResponder.com:
