Tuesday, May 29, 2007
** Edmonton, Alberta to add more single man response units
** California struggling to deal with criminal EMTs
** Four Southwest Ambulance medics win EMS competition
** Irish medic falls from moving ambulance
CANADA NEWS
** Edmonton is looking at adding more single man Paramedic Response Units. That is the word from CHED (Scott Johnston/May 28) which said a successful pilot project with the SUVs has prompted the expansion. Originally beginning with two PRUs in January, the city currently has four. EMS deputy chief Jim Garland said the approach is improving response times. Medical Director Dr. Sunil Sookram agreed, saying further expansion will likely take place later in the summer.
UNITED STATES NEWS
** Bad publicity continues to dog California when it comes to allowing EMTs with criminal records to practice. The Sacramento Bee (Andrew McIntosh/May 27) detailed the latest embarrassment in the case of San Francisco Fire Department medic Timothy Lee Gutierrez, 39. Gutierrez has logged arrests for child sexual abuse, indecent exposure, spouse battering and vandalism. A department spokesman said it cannot act against Gutierrez because the offences occurred on his off duty time. In addition, the state has said its hands are tied when it comes to licence revocation since Solano County’s Emergency Medical Services Cooperative issued the papers. Gutierrez was last arrested May 14 in Fairfield for fondling himself in public.
** Four Southwest Ambulance Service paramedics have won the state’s EMS Week competition. The award recognizes superior performance during 20-minute patient scenarios. Sponsored by the state Department of Health, the May 23 event was judged by emergency medicine physicians. Southwest winners include paramedic Jason Payne, paramedic Andy Bair, paramedic Dave Stockton, and EMT Adam Lizardi. This is the first year the team has competed.
IRELAND NEWS
** A County Kerry paramedic remains in hospital in stable condition after he fell from a moving ambulance Monday. The Irish Examiner (May 28) said the unidentified medic was ejected from the vehicle’s side door around 10 a.m. The unit was doing a patient transfer at the time. Details remain sketchy. Police are investigating.
