Friday, October 19, 2007

** Off duty Chicago paramedic killed in pedestrian/car accident

** Melbourne, Australia ambulance union decries aged ambulances

UNITED STATES NEWS

** Chicago EMS workers are in mourning, after a Thursday pedestrian/car accident killed a city fire department paramedic.The Chicago Tribune (Jason Meisner/Jeremy Gorner/October 18) said the unidentified practitioner, 43, who was off duty at the time, was killed around 3:30 a.m. in Schaumburg while crossing the street. Transported to Arlington Heights’ Northwest Community Hospital, he was pronounced dead around 5 a.m. Family notification is pending.

AUSTRALIA NEWS

** Malfunctioning ambulances in Melbourne are apparently endangering patients. That, at least, is the contention of ABC (October 18) which quoted the Ambulance Employees Union as saying at least five incidents supporting the claim have occurred in the last two weeks. According to union spokesman Steve McGhie, one call saw medics responding to an infant with heart problems delayed because the unit became stuck in second gear. Metropolitan Ambulance Service spokesman Keith Young, meanwhile, bristled at the accusation. Young said EMS vehicles are not dangerous and replacement units are dispatched when unexpected break-downs occur.