Friday, May 8, 2009
** Tennessee paramedic arrested for impersonating police officer
** London Ambulance Service (UK) seeing upswing in alcohol related calls
UNITED STATES NEWS
** A Memphis, Tennessee paramedic has been charged with impersonating a police officer. That is the word from News Channel 3 (Kelly Hessedal/May 6) which said Douglas Rooker, 53, was tagged with criminal impersonation and extortion after pulling a fake badge on a Midtown woman. According to the news site, Rooker demanded $1,000 from the woman to suppress video he told her he took of four traffic violations she committed. Licenced to practice EMS since 1991, Rooker is currently employed with Pro-Med Inc.
UNITED KINGDOM NEWS
** London Ambulance Service paramedics are apparently seeing an upswing in alcohol related calls, with an 11 per cent hike in such help hails being noted. The Telegraph (Rebecca Smith/May 7) said the stat, which compared call volumes between 2006/07 to 2007/08, also indicates that some drunks are as young as 10 years of age. According to the newspaper, inebriated children ‘minesweep’ at family get togethers by finishing abandonned adult drinks. The issue was raised at a hearing of the Commons Health Select Committee. Speaking before the group, city medic Brian Hayes said alcohol abuse costs the service a fortune. Informal estimates place the number of UK adults who drink to harmful excess at around 23 per cent.
