Thursday, May 3, 2007

** Winnipeg appoints new Fire-Paramedic Service chief

** Florida paramedic arrested for robbery with a deadly weapon

** Poor supervision and training led Staffordshire to remove meds from trucks

CANADA NEWS

** As expected, Winnipeg has declared acting chief Jim Brennan as the new head of the city’s Fire Paramedic Service. The Winnipeg Free Press (Bartley Kives/May 2) said Brennan, who has over 30 years in EMS under his belt, assumes command as the first paramedic to hold the post. Brennan takes control of the troubled service from former chief Wes Shoemaker who departed in December. Shoemaker left ostensibly to assist Vancouver in its lead up to the 2010 Winter Olympics. Paramedics’ union spokesman Travis Hildebrand applauded Brennan’s appointment, saying the development was a very positive one.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A Nature Coast EMS, Florida paramedic has been charged with robbery with a deadly weapon, after allegedly stealing Oxycontin from a drug store to feed his substance abuse habit. Brandon Scott Johnson, 25, was arrested at his fire station Friday for the Wednesday heist. A tip led police to him. Johnson allegedly scuffled with store employees after holding the business up with a butter knife. He later received staples for a head wound incurred during the confrontation.

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** Six drugs were removed from Staffordshire Ambulance Service trucks last month because staff were poorly trained in their use and management failed to adequately supervise their administration. That is the word from This is Staffordshire (Dave Blackmore/May 2) which said a review prepared by the Regional Strategic Health Authority also noted some medics were confused over what the meds were for. Among the drugs was activated charcoal and a sinusitis antibiotic. Several of the medications still remain off the rigs. A spokesman for the paramedics said their removal was a non issue since most were administrated by hospital staff anways.