Wednesday, February 24, 2010

** PEI medics concerned emergency speed caps endangering patient lives

** New York medics play snow volleyball to raise funds for scholarship in honor of LODD medic

CANADA NEWS

** Like their colleagues in New Brunswick, PEI medics are growing concerned over new speed guidelines for emergencies. The CBC (February 22) quoted union medic spokesman Bill McKinnon as saying the rule endangers patient lives. McKinnon’s comments come after a last Thursday night incident in New Brunswick in which a female patient with breathing problems died. According to the news service, attending providers three times requested dispatch clearance to breach the speed protocol. With no go-ahead forthcoming, the elderly woman died in the ambulance. Island EMS General Manager Craig Pierre, however, said his company would not be changing speed caps. Craig said having units go over limits by 20 km/h during optimum conditions is the safety limit.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** By way of remembering an EMT who was killed last year in the line of duty, Cape Vincent New York EMS practitioners took to an outdoor volleyball court this past weekend. The Watertown Daily Times (Sarah Haase/February 21) said practitioners played in the snow last Saturday to honor the memory of Mark B. Davis. Davis died in January 2009 after being shot while responding to a call. Eleven teams took part in the event which raised funds for a EMS scholarship in Davis’ name at a local college.