This Week in EMS: A Recap for April 19 - 25, 2008

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In a top article on EMSResponder.com this week, an Illinois diver describes the rescue of a toddler from Lake Michigan. Wind had blown the boy's stroller into the lake, and his grandfather, who jumped in after him, also required rescue.

"It just seemed like an eternity, but I knew we were going to come up with that kid," said diver Brian Otto, who pulled the boy, stroller and all, 10 feet up to the surface and to waiting paramedics above.

Visit the article: Diver Describes Lake Michigan Rescue of Two-Year-Old Boy.

The controversial issue of paramedics performing Rapid Sequence Intubation gained attention this week in Texas after a report in the Star-Telegram found that at least two people in Texas have died and another has become permanently disabled after being deprived of oxygen during the procedure.

According to the report, the procedure can be used without restriction in the state even though it is heavily regulated elsewhere. The report also suggests that these incidents may indicate an even larger problem, citing opinions that the majority of such cases remain unknown to the public.

Read more at: RSI Gets a Low Level of Oversight in Texas.

Maryland EMS leaders faced some additional scrutiny in the news this week over the state's unusual emphasis on trauma care, with a high saturation of trauma centers and the only hospital in the United States dedicated solely to trauma care, University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

Although the state's system has been lauded as a national model, some are now asking whether the costs are justified. The issue was first brought to light several weeks ago when it was revealed that about half the patients transported by state police helicopters to trauma centers are not seriously injured and are released within 24 hours.

For the full story and some controversial comments about the "Golden Hour," visit Experts Disagree About Maryland's Dedicated Trauma Center.

Responders in the upper Midwest, beware: a federal government report has found the region to have the worst drunken driving rates in the country. Wisconsin leads the way, with more than a quarter of the state's adult drivers estimated to have driven under the influence. Rounding out the worst five are North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

The report says that nationwide, 15 percent of adult drivers report having driven under the influence of alcohol in the previous year.

For details visit: Study: Midwest Has the Worst Drunken Driving Rates.

Bonnie Ames, 21, the New York EMT who lost her right arm last week in an ambulance crash, is recovering well according to an update website by her family and friends.

They report that on the morning of April 24, 2008, Bonnie was stable and went in for additional surgeries, and is still using a ventilator.

According to an update by The Journal News, the crash sheared off the passenger side of the ambulance, where Ames sat, causing serious injury to the right side of her body. In addition to the loss of her arm, Bonnie's injuries included a fractured vertebrae. EMT Scott Millar, 19, suffered a head injury in the crash, as well as fractures to his lower back and neck.

Fundraising efforts are underway to help the injured responders. For more information visit the website for the RPS/Regional EMS Benevolent Fund.

For the original report visit: NY EMT Loses Arm in Ambulance Crash.

Industry News:

Acadian Ambulance's Austin Operations Celebrates No Lost-Time Injuries

Acadian's Austin area operation with a workforce of 93 employees has worked more than 4,320 safe hours, over a six month period, without experiencing any lost-time employee injuries.

To mark the safety milestone, the service hosted a celebration luncheon and had every employee's personal automobile cleaned and detailed.