This Week in EMS: Ambulance Crash...Vehicle Safety Issues...EMS Education

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Patient Killed, Responder Critical After Tenn. Ambulance Crash

A Johnson County (TN) Rescue Squad ambulance was involved in a fatal crash that left a responder in critical condition on Sept. 15. The crash occurred on Highway 67 when a Chevy Lumina crossed the center lane and hit the ambulance. The impact pushed the ambulance off the road. It returned to the road, but its rear tire caught the edge, and flipped it over an embankment.

Kansas City, MO, Votes for Fire Department to Take Over EMS

The City Council voted Thursday afternoon to move control of the MAST ambulance service to the Fire Department. The proposal to merge Kansas City's ambulance service with the Fire Department had generated a lot of controversy. The final vote on Thursday was 10-2 in favor of the move.

Nearly Half of All Health Care Workers Shun Flu Shots

Every year, top U.S. health officials send out widely publicized reminders to get vaccinated against seasonal flu. And every year, more than 60% of the public looks the other way. Even more surprising, nearly 50% of the nation's healthcare workers also ignore the reminder, often for the same reasons. They think they don't need it, doubt its efficacy or are convinced the vaccine carries risks of dangerous side effects.

Industry Best Practices

CARES Safety Center Helps Keep Children Safe

Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in young children nationwide. To help prevent these types of injuries, the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy and Baltimore City Fire Department partnered with other local organizations to develop the Johns Hopkins CARES (Children Are Safe) Safety Center--a 40-foot truck that travels around Baltimore bringing information and safety products to families.

EMS Magazine Online Exclusive

Views From RETTmobil: Ambulance Safety Innovations

RETTmobil may be the most important EMS conference and trade show you've never heard of. The event showcases the latest in safety and rescue innovations for EMS providers from across Europe (it translates to mobile rescue). In this series of articles, three members of a delegation of North American EMS providers who attended RETTmobil discuss their impressions and what they found most interesting and potentially helpful to their own jurisdictions.

Training & Resources

Five Traits You Need to Get to the Top

"Phil" has been involved in healthcare for more than 15 years. He began as an EMT-Basic working for a small private ambulance company and pursued his dream of becoming a paramedic. Midway through his paramedic school, the ambulance company he worked for was sold, and Phil was out of a job. Still driven to obtain his paramedic certification, and despite the job loss, he made some decisions to "make it happen."

EMS Field Instruction: A Multi-Part Series

The first 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. Field instructors need a director, education on how to do their job, and quality assurance and quality documentation tools. This article outlines all the steps needed and includes a list of forms and tools that can be downloaded so you can easily implement an effective FI program.

Real World Skills for Scene Safety: Part 4

The fifth of DT4EMS' six steps, basic ground defense (BGD) is used to give the provider a moment to protect him- or herself if knocked to the ground.

EMS Education Tips