News

This Week in EMS: A Recap for Dec. 30, 2006 - Jan. 5, 2007

HEATHER CASPI, Editor

01/04/2007

EMSResponder.com wishes a Happy New Year to all of our readers.

Among the many emergency responders who worked the New Year's Eve shift, two New Orleans paramedics had a particularly unsettling night. They were in their ambulance discussing the odds of celebratory gunfire striking the vehicle, when they heard a massive bang on the roof.

A bullet had partially penetrated the roof of the ambulance and lodged in the lining, directly over the head of paramedic Jason Spees. If it had continued through the roof it would have struck Spees in the head, neck or collarbone.

For the full story and photos, visit: New Year's Gunfire Causes Close Call for New Orleans Medics

The top story on EMSResponder.com this week was the effort to establish a permanent, outdoor memorial site to honor those EMS personnel who die in the line of duty. Firefighters have such a memorial on the grounds of the National Fire Academy in Maryland, and EMS leaders have long sought to provide such a tribute. The groundwork for the effort has been ongoing for several years, but has become a priority since the closing of the "To the Rescue" Museum in Roanoke, Virginia, which housed the National EMS Memorial Service's exhibit, "The Tree of Life."

The National EMS Memorial Project is now asking the EMS community to participate in establishing the new memorial. Project organizers wish to move as fast as possible, and aim for a 2010 completion.

Committees will be formed to achieve the goals of acquiring land for the memorial, selecting a design, fundraising, and construction. Anyone interested in serving on one or more of these committees is asked to contact Kevin Agard at 201-896-3862 or pio@nemsms.org.

Those interested may also keep up to date by visiting the Project's web site at https://memorial.nemsms.org and/or by joining the Project's mailing list by sending a blank email to: memorial-subscribe@nemsms.org.

Suggestions for the memorial location and for design concepts that include the "Tree of Life" theme should be sent to the National EMS Memorial Project, PO Box 6604, Carlstadt, N.J. 07072-0604.

To read the full article and more details on how to contribute to this project, visit: Efforts Underway to Establish Permanent EMS Memorial Site

In other news you can use, the E9-1-1 Institute is seeking nominations for their annual awards.

Every year, the E9-1-1 Institute, with the Congressional E9-1-1 Caucus, hold an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. to honor heroes and leaders in the 9-1-1 field.

The submission form and instructions, along with the descriptions of the various award categories are available on the website: www.e911institute.org. All nominations must be received by midnight on February 5, 2007.

For more information visit: E9-1-1 Institute Seeks Annual Award Nominations

As we say goodbye to 2006, here is a look back at the 20 most read news articles last year on EMSResponder.com: