Tuesday, December 14, 2010
** Alberta medic killed in last Monday crash laid to rest
** New York EMT accused of failing to aid asthmatic who later died asks for dismissal of misconduct charges
** Illinois EMT charged after hitting pedestrian, leaving accident scene
CANADA NEWS
** Funeral services for an Alberta medic, killed last Monday in an ambulance accident near McLennan were held Monday. CBC (December 13) medics from across several provinces showed up in the tiny town to pay tribute of the life of John O’Mahony, 65. Alberta practitioners also paused for a moment of silence at 11 a.m. in his honor. O’Mahony, who was beloved in the area for his three decades plus career as a math teacher, had worked EMS for the past twenty-four years. Though news outlets initially noted his contribution to the field as being only two years, O’Mahony had worked with the Smoky River Ambulance Service from 1979-2002;his career span included stints as an EMR, EMT, and EMS manager. Well known for his conservation work, he was also noted for his skills as a vocalist. Remembered at the St. John the Baptist Cathedral Parish , O’Mahony’s prehospital links were honored following the church service by an EMS Honour Guard lining the funeral vehicles recession route.
UNITED STATES NEWS
** A New York EMT, charged with official misconduct for failing to aid a medically distressed woman in a coffee shop, has asked that the tags be dropped. That is the word from the New York Daily News (December 12), which said counsel for Melissa Jackson, 24, claim it was another EMT who declined to assist Eutisha Rennix. Rennix, 25, who was six months pregnant, was working at the Au Bon Pain last December 9 when she had an acute asthma attack. Shop staffers said they alerted Jackson and EMT Jason Green who were in the locale while taking a break from upstairs EMS dispatching duties. Both medics allegedly told staffers to dial 911. Jackson also hailed emergency aid, but did not attempt to treat Rennix. Both Jackson and Green were suspended for 30 days without pay. Green died earlier this year in a summer shooting.
** An Illinois medic in Elgin has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident after hitting a teenaged pedestrian at a school crosswalk last Wednesday. CBS Chicago (December 11) said Adam L. Mackey, 22, was allegedly behind the wheel of the ambulance around 2:56 p.m. when he hit a 16-year-old near Lanark High School. Several people witnessed the incident, helping police to track down Mackey. William D. Lanman suffered injuries from a mirror strike to the face. He was treated and released from hospital.
