Wednesday, March 23, 2011

** New York police say EMT died from on-the-job mystery illness

** On duty UK laughing gas medic found fit to practice

UNITED STATES NEWS

** Long Island, New York EMTs are mourning the loss of a colleague, after officials say Nassau County EMT Steven Linzer, 45, died from an on-the-job mystery illness. The New York Post (Selim Algar/March 22) said Linzer succumbed last Wednesday to the undisclosed ailment. Though few clues are being offered as to what befell him, the newspaper did say Linzer’s death is being treated by police as occurring in the line of duty. A Health Department spokesman also confirmed that infectious disease officials are not investigating. The medical examiner’s finding, meanwhile, is pending.

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** A Darlington paramedic, who was inhaling Entonox while sleeping in his rapid response vehicle, has been given little more than a slap on the wrist for the on-duty infraction. The Northern Echo (David Roberts/March 17) said a Health Professions Council meeting last week gave Mark Pollitt a 12 month probationary period with conditions. According to the newspaper, the council found him fit to practice, despite the fact the February 2010 incident was not the first infraction. Pollitt, who has been with the North East Ambulance Service for some 17 years, was photographed with a mask near his face and a tube connected to an Entonox cylinder in the car’s rear. Stationed outside a hospital, he was eventually woken, disoriented, by a supervisor. While admitting using the gas for medical reasons on several occasions, Pollitt told the council he would not do so again.