This Week in EMS: Line-of-Duty Deaths...Biological Terror Threat...Obese Patient Costs

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Rescuer, Patient Killed in Tenn. Ambulance Crash

Two people were killed when an ambulance was involved in a crash with a Tennessee Department of Transportation truck on Interstate 65 North on Thursday afternoon.

N.C. Responder Killed in Ambulance Crash

A first responder from the Fort Bragg military base was killed Oct. 22 in an ambulance crash while responding to a call.

Biological Terrorism Threat Greater Than Ever

U.S. preparedness is still lacking according to an interim report from the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation & Terrorism. A biological attack, commission members stress, is more likely than a nuclear attack, and a WMD attack is likely to occur somewhere in the world before the end of 2013.

Documentary Revisits D.C. Metro Crash

On June 22 during the height of rush hour, a Metro train collision left nine dead and 76 hurt. D.C. Fire and EMS has created a documentary on the incident, and dedicated it to the victims, their families, and the brave crews who answered the call that day.

EMS Agencies to Charge Extra for Obese Patients

As the nation battles the obesity crisis, ambulance crews are trying to improve how they transport extremely heavy patients. Caring for such patients is expensive, requiring costly equipment and extra workers, so some ambulance companies have started charging higher fees for especially overweight people.

Industry Best Practice

AEDs Available for the People

A lot of effort has gone into public-access defibrillation programs in communities across the country, but still, not everyone who might need an AED can afford or get access to one. In western Wisconsin, a novel program from the local 9-1-1 provider aims to make the lifesaving devices available, at least temporarily, at gatherings where they might be needed.

Point of View

If It Is to Be, It's Up to Me

Healthcare is an incredibly rewarding field. Unfortunately, many of us lose sight of the inspiration that first drew us to our work. Here are some methods that will help you look at your job in a whole new (positive!) way.

Training & Resources

EMS Field Instruction: Part 2--Adult Learning

The second article in a four-part series, Elements of an Effective Field Instruction Program is written for managers who want to start or improve a field instructor program. This article addresses some leading theories about how adults learn. Recognizing different learning types will help instructors tailor their training to meet the needs of trainees. Look for part three of this article next month.

Real World Skills for Scene Safety: Part 5

The conclusion to this 5-part series discusses what happens when an EMS provider could not use basic ground defense to keep an attacker away and finds himself where he is supine with the attacker astride him. The author of this series, Kip Teitsort, will be speaking on this subject at EMS EXPO in Atlanta, GA, October 26-30. To register, visit www.emsexpoevents.com.

Continuing Education

Burning Issues

It is estimated that 1.2 million Americans are burned each year, and that more than 50,000 require hospitalization. Nearly a million a year seek emergency department treatment for burns. Burns also account for roughly 5,000 deaths per year. Fires and burns are the second-most common cause of unintentional injury leading to death in children and the third-leading cause of unintentional injury leading to death for those older than 1. By understanding the pathophysiology of burns, providers can give patients their best chance at good outcomes.

This CE activity is approved by EMS Magazine, an organization accredited by the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS), for 1.5 CEUs.