Tuesday, January 4, 2011

** New Mexico EMT struggling to recover after December ambulance/car crash

** Paramedic Association of Manitoba welcomes new chairman

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A Santa Fe, New Mexico EMT, injured last month in a head-on collision, continues to recuperate in hospital. KOAT (January 3) said Vanessa Carillo, 19, who suffered 35 broken bones in the impact, will likely be unable to walk for several months yet. Still awaiting surgery to repair a broken nose, Carillo is also contending with some 14 other fractures in her face. Intending to study to become an ER doctor once her health returns, she said she is struggling with the preventable nature of the accident. According to the newspaper, the driver of the wrong way car that hit Carillo may have been intoxicated;police say the car reached speeds of 100 mph before hitting the ambulance. Kylene Holmes, who was behind the wheel of the car, died at the scene. Holmes’ passenger could be charged in relation to the crash.

CANADA NEWS

** The start of the New Year marks the beginning of office for incoming Paramedic Association of Manitoba (PAM) Chairman Jodie Possia. Possia assumes responsibility from outgoing office holder Eric Glass. Glass, who oversaw the growth in his organization’s membership from some 350 in 2001 to nearly 1,000 members today, announced his intention to step down late last year. Possia is an ACP for Winnipeg EMS;she is also a PCP instructor at Red River Community College. Experienced in both rural and urban EMS, she is a past director of PAM.