Wednesday, July 16, 2008
** Cleveland paramedics fired on while attending call
** Majority of New Brunswick paramedic hopefuls failing licensing exam
** Queensland ambulance union lobbies state government for more funds
UNITED STATES NEWS
** No one was apparently injured, but a pair of Cleveland paramedics were fired upon yesterday morning while attending a shooting victim. That is the word from the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Donna J. Miller/July 15) which said the 6:30 a.m. incident played out with an angry mob surrounding practitioners while they attempted to render treatment to the 18-year-old. There is no word on whether any arrests have been made. Police continue to investigate.
CANADA NEWS
** New Brunswick paramedic wannabees are apparently having a bad year, with little more than half of provincial licence applicants passing their exams on the first attempt. The Telegraph Journal (Adam Bowie/July 15) said 2008 has set a record with only 54 of 94 potential medics making the grade. Paramedic Association of New Brunswick (PANB) president Chris Hood said he is uncertain why so many are failing. Usually the pass rate is about 80 per cent. As a result of the anomaly, Hood said his organization intends to study test results to determine if there is a specific area proving problematic.
AUSTRALIA NEWS
** Queensland’s ambulance union is warning of dire scenarios unless the state government allocates more funding to EMS. ABC News (July 15) quoted Ambulance Employees Australia secretary Steve Crow as saying a lack of resources is forcing many patients to drive themselves to hospitals. Crow made the comment after news broke of a Sunshine Coast woman who brought her elderly mother to hospital in her own car;a nurse rode with them to administer oxygen. Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts, while not directly speaking to Crow’s concern, said the ambulance service has already undertaken both staff and vehicle upgrades. Roberts said individual area needs continue to be assessed.
