Thursday, May 24, 2007
** Ontario study supports improved airway management techniques
** Pennsylvania medic released from jail after serving time on child porn charges
** FBI investigating suspicious ambulance thefts
CANADA NEWS
** An Ontario EMS study has found medics who practice improved airway management techniques could save 2 per more lives per year. That is the word from a press release put out by the Paramedic Association of Manitoba (May 23) which said the Ontario Prehospital Advanced Life Support Study (OPALS) focused on patients who have difficulty breathing. PAM spokesman Eric Glass said along with the number of lives saved, patients treated by more highly skilled medics would also arrive in better condition at hospital. Glass’ comments come mere days after PAM released a White Paper on the state of prehospital care in Manitoba. Along with advocating better training and education for paramedics, the tome also called for professional credentialing and improved advanced treatment. The report on the OPALS findings is found in the latest edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
UNITED STATES NEWS
** A Middletown, Pennsylvania EMT, convicted on child porn charges, has now been released from prison. The Associated Press (May 23) said Richard D. Wilcox, 34, was paroled Tuesday after serving time since February. As a convicted sex offender, he continues to undergo counseling and has provided the state with a DNA sample. Wilcox’ conviction relates to charges stemming from using Camp Hill Fire and EMS Service computers to view sexually explicit photos of young girls.
** The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is looking into the theft of an Oakland, California ambulance. NBC 11 (May 23) said the heist, which occurred Tuesday at the Summit Medical Center, played out with the unit being located a short time before a similar theft was aborted at McAffee Stadium. Police are not saying if the two incidents are related, but noted that the units have universal keys allowing drivers to make use of other EMS vehicles.
