This Week in EMS: Heat Wave Challenges...SCA Video Contest...Chest Pain Assessment...EMS Blogs

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Heat Wave Challenges East Coast Crews

As a record-breaking heat wave grips the East Coast, firefighters and emergency medical service providers at some agencies are taxed to the limit. Triple-digit highs were recorded from Charlotte, N.C. to New York this week, where members of FDNY's EMS crews were called upon at near record levels.

Colorado Med Evac Adds High-Risk Obstetrics to Services

North Colorado Medical Center's helicopter service has added transportation of high-risk expectant mothers to its resume. North Colorado Med Evac will take pregnant women in trauma from throughout the region to one of the two Denver hospitals that specialize in their care.

Paramedic Students Use Social Media to Raise CPR Awareness

The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation has announced the winner of its You Can Save a Life Video Awareness Contest. The student competition invited teams to submit videos about the impact of sudden cardiac arrest. The grand prize winner is 911 Emergency ROCKsponse, a college team from Ontario, Canada, whose creative paramedic rap has already received more than 42,000 views and 240 comments on YouTube.

EMS Training Center

Chest Pain Evaluation by EMS Personnel

Chest pain evaluation is a relatively imprecise and high-risk process even in the hospital setting; in the prehospital setting it is even more dangerous. Whether it's 2:30 in the afternoon or 2:30 in the morning, always remember that the patient with chest pain is having a cardiac event until proven otherwise, and you can't prove that one way or another in the field.

The Corner Office: Practical Management for EMS Leaders

EMS Leadership Part 2: Inspirational Motivational Transformational Leadership in EMS

Inspirational leaders are able to develop an effective organizational vision and build team spirit, as well as a meaningful work environment. These ingredients are essential to ensure team and organizational success.

Prehospital Profiles

Grand Rounds From the EMS Blogosphere

This month sees the launch of a new column by EMS blogger Adam Thompson that will provide an update of the hot topics being discussed on EMS blogs around the Web. Adam, who launched the Paramedicine 101 blog in 2009, will introduce a new blogger each month, plus offer his top tips for anyone interested in starting their own blog.

Industry Best Practices

Service Photos

In an age of high-tech phones and digital cameras, you would think it would be easy to find a picture of someone when you need it. Yet, according to Kevin Agard, PIO for the National EMS Memorial Service, of the 26 EMS providers most recently honored, there were no pictures for two and two other photos were of less-than-desirable quality.

Editorial Spotlight: EMS Innovations 2010

July is Innovations Month on EMSResponder.com and we will be featuring exclusive coverage drawn from this year's EMS State of the Sciences Conference (also known as the Gathering of Eagles)--the prestigious yearly conclave at which EMS medical directors from the nation's largest cities meet to talk about cutting-edge issues and their latest interventions and innovations--that examines ways in which EMS can provide better foundations and contribute to stronger structures. This week: The Spitting Image of a Heart Attack. When treating a cardiac emergency, have you ever considered the value of your patient's spit? While this may seem odd, research indicates many heart attack biomarkers found in blood can also be detected in patients' saliva.

Featured EMS Magazine Article: July 2010

Quality Improvement Part 1: Retrospective Review