Wednesday, March 17, 2010

** Ohio sees state EMS grants go unclaimed

** Ontario medic looking to raise $20,000 for Heart & Stroke Foundation

UNITED STATES NEWS

** Bureaucratic mix-ups, as well as EMS service ownership changes, have apparently resulted in unclaimed prehospital grants in Ohio. That is the word from The Columbus Dispatch (Suzanne Hoholik/March 14) which said at least 93 EMS and fire agencies neglected to claim $362,433 in state funding last year. According to the newspaper, the money is part of an annual $4 million bequest from the Emergency Medical Services Division aimed at subsidizing equipment and training costs. Unclaimed funds are rolled over into the following year’s pot. Those failing to access allocated funds can reapply for the grants.

CANADA NEWS

** A Sudbury, Ontario paramedic is looking to raise $20,000 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The Sudbury Star (March 9) said Dennis Melanson will take part in the 75-km Becel Ride for Heart Challenge in Toronto June 6. According to the newspaper, Melanson, who works for Greater Sudbury EMS, hopes the money is used to buy automated external defibrillators. To date, Melanson has raised the second largest amount of money in the province.