Monday, June 20, 2011

** Illinois paramedic may have died after tick bites

** Irish medic calls for law banning laser pointers

UNITED STATES NEWS

** Funeral services were held Friday in Illinois for a Belleville paramedic who may have died suddenly after a tick bite. The O’Fallon Progress (Jamie Forsythe/June 14) said Michelle Heap, 46, succumbed last Tuesday after attending the emergency room when she felt unwell. According to the newspaper, Heap, who was a division supervisor with O’Fallon EMS, had recently returned from two camping trips. Police Chief John O’Betten said while the cause of death is as yet undetermined, her symptoms were similar to those associated with tick born disease. A subsequent report put out by Gamut News (June 15) said Heap may have suffered as many as 20 tick bites during her holiday. Heap leaves behind two brothers as well as extended family.

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** An Irish paramedic is calling for a law banning the use of laser pointers after he was temporarily blinded earlier this month during an EMS run. The BBC (June 15) said Belfast practitioner John Corr was in the ambulance around 1 a.m. when the beam came from a vehicle that had pulled alongside. Missing his optic nerve, the light, nevertheless, forced Corr to pull over and take the passenger seat instead. Doctors later found a burn on his retina. Saying the incident endangered both him and his partner, as well as other drivers, Corr said lawmakers should consider such attacks an assault.