This Week in EMS: A Recap for Sept. 16-22, 2006

Three ambulance crashes this week served as a stark reminder of the inherent risks of operating and riding in an emergency vehicle.

The crashes occurred in Chicago, Georgia and South Carolina. Although these articles did not detail whether any of the EMS providers were riding unrestrained in the back of the ambulances, this is a safety issue that has come to the forefront of EMS discussion.

In the Chicago crash, an ambulance carrying a teenage patient flipped over and plowed into a traffic pole on the South Side Sunday afternoon. Several injuries were reported, including two paramedics and a police officer who was riding in the ambulance.

In the Georgia crash between an ambulance and a bus, both the vehicles' drivers suffered minor injuries, which caused the ambulance to topple over. The most serious injury was reported to be to a paramedic who was in the back of the ambulance at the time of the crash, and who was airlifted to an area hospital.

The South Carolina wreck between an ambulance and a pickup truck left the driver of the pickup dead and three other people seriously injured.

It seems that some number of ambulance crashes will be inevitable despite the best efforts of EMS personnel to avoid them, and the risk of injury is increased by the fact that many personnel don't use the patient compartment restraints, because they may interfere with patient care.

This issue now has industry leaders looking for solutions. At the upcoming EMS Expo, NIOSH representatives will report on their latest ambulance safety research and vehicle occupant restraint testing. If you won't be at the session, look for coverage on EMSResponder.com.

Another issue raised in the news this week was whether EMTs should have the authority to decide when to stop CPR. A new study attempts to validate the argument that ambulance services could reduce the number of hopeless trips to the hospital if EMTs were allowed to end resuscitation efforts sooner in patients who are in cardiac arrest.

According to a related Seattle Times article earlier this year, one Washington county has already given EMTs the authority to forgo resuscitation.

Other prominent news in the EMS world this week has been the uncertain future of the Emergency Medical Services Authority in Oklahoma. Oklahoma City officials are debating whether to stay in this partnership with local communities and Tulsa, or to hand over ambulance service to the fire department.

This decision raises not only the question of which form of service will be the most affordable for the city, but which form of service will be "better" for the city, an often emotional issue debated in many communities.

Among the most popular news on the site this week was the story of a Florida paramedic who got his job back, with back pay, after being fired in May 2005 for not responding to a 911 call.

There was also a follow up on EMS in the nation's capital, which has had numerous problems highlighted in the media. This week, city officials conceded that the system needs reform.

News You Can Use

Generic prescription drugs may become more affordable and therefore more common under a new program announced by Wal-Mart to sell them for $4 for a 30-day supply. On average generic prescriptions cost between $10 and $30 for a month-long supply.

The program will include 291 generic drugs available for conditions from allergies to high-blood pressure. The program will be launched Friday in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, will be expanded to the entire state in January, and then to as many states as possible next year.

In EMS Expo news, an additional author has been added to the schedule for book signings. EMS author Kelly Grayson will be at the Cygnus booth on Friday, Sept. 29 from 11 am -- 12:30 pm.

The previously announced authors are Thom Dick, who will be available Wednesday, Sept. 27 from 1-2:30 pm., and Robert Nixon, who will be available Thursday, Sept. 28 from 12-1:30 pm.

For more information about EMS Expo 2006 in Las Vegas, which takes place next week, visit www.emsexpo2006.com. To find and purchase books by these authors online, visit www.emsbooks.com.