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This Week in EMS: A Recap for Feb. 17 - 23, 2007
There was a traumatic response for rescuers in Arizona this week when a 5-year-old girl was thrown from her horse during the Tucson Rodeo Parade, and was then trampled by horses pulling a wagon.
Hundreds of people witnessed the tragedy and the attempted rescue by Tucson Fire Department paramedics. Rescuers loaded the girl into an ambulance and rushed her to the hospital, but she did not survive.
Police reported that the girl was three years younger than the minimum age required to participate, and they were investigating whether criminal charges would be filed.
For more on this incident visit the full article, Girl Trampled, Killed by Horses During Tucson Rodeo Parade.
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In other tragic EMS news, a Pennsylvania EMT was killed last Friday in a single-vehicle crash while responding to an emergency call. David Sauder, 35, was a member of the Leola Ambulance Association.
Sauder had been picked up at home by his colleague Doris Martin in her private vehicle, and they were responding to their Association headquarters when icy road conditions caused Martin to lose control of her van. The Association's medic unit responded to the crash and attended to their fellow responders. To read more visit, Crash Takes Life of Pennsylvania EMT.
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Top industry news this week included a proposed bill in California to make it illegal for hospitals to leave discharged patients on the street.
It's unfortunate that such a law is needed, but Los Angeles authorities are investigating numerous cases of ambulance workers dropping off homeless and indigent patients alone in the downtown area known as Skid Row.
The proposed legislation would make it a misdemeanor for any hospital facility or worker to transport patients anywhere other than their residences without their informed consent. However, the Hospital Association of Southern California argues that this does not address the lack of social services needed to solve the problem.
For more on this issue read, California Bill Would Bar Patient Dumping.
Reminders:
EMS Magazine is looking for your nominations for the 22nd Annual EMT/Paramedic of the Year Award, sponsored by Braun Industries and ZOLL Medical Corporation. For full contest rules and instructions please visit www.emsresponder.com/paramedic.
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Don't forget to submit your favorite online resources for consideration in this year's EMS Magazine annual website review. Please e-mail your suggestion to website editor Heather Caspi at Heather.Caspi@cygnusb2b.com.
Other top headlines on EMSResponder.com this week:
