Friday, August 17, 2007

** Texas medic injured in accident

** California EMS officials warn colleagues about EMT

** Welsh Ambulance Service continues to make improvements

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A Texas paramedic is in serious condition in hospital, following a Thursday morning accident in southeast Houston. KHOU (August 16) said the unidentified provider apparently sustained undisclosed injuries after the ambulance he was in lost control, entered a ditch, and hit a pole. Rain is believed to have been a factor. Another Maxxim Care EMS worker was also injured in the mishap. Both were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital.

** State EMS brass in California are warning colleagues about a San Francisco EMT who has lost his prehospital certification. The Sacramento Bee (Andrew McIntosh/August 16) said the EMS Authority issued the alert in regards to Timothy Lee Gutierrez who had his EMS credentials stripped in mid July by Solano County. Despite the censure, Gutierrez attempted to secure certification from the state’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection where criminal background checks are not performed. The request was denied after the department contacted Solano County. Gutierrez has an extensive history of stalking, spousal attacks, child sexual abuse, indecent exposure, and vandalism. A Solano County prosecutor also labeled him last year as a serious risk to the public.

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** The Welsh Ambulance Service continues to make improvements, with the latest being the introduction of new non emergency transport vehicles. The Western Mail (Madeleine Brindley/August 16) said the cars are intended to free up those used for emergency cover and can transport out of county or even out of country. Four of the units will be introduced to Cardiff in the next year and a half, while four other vehicles will be assigned to other areas. Additional rapid response vehicles are also to be strategically placed throughout the country to aid in improving response times.