Monday, July 4, 2011

** 35 South African medics suspended after falsifying EMS credentials

** Delaware bill allows memorial signage recognizing lives of 2 EMS LODDs

SOUTH AFRICA NEWS

** Some 35 medics in Limpopo have been fired after allegedly falsifying their EMS credentials. That is the word from Sowetan Live (Alex Matlala/June 29) which said all of the practitioners were placed on suspension two weeks ago. According to the newspaper, officials were alerted to the potential scam by a tip. They then offered the questionable practitioners an opportunity to prove their prehospital certificates valid, but only one did so. Polokwane police are now investigating the issuer of the certificates.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** Memorial signs recognizing the lives of two Delaware paramedics killed in the line of duty can now be legally erected. WGMD (Kelli Steele/June 29) said Senate Bill 67 authorizing the move was signed into law by Gov. Jack Markell last week. According to the news site, signs will recognize medics Stephanie Callaway and Michelle Smith. Callaway died in July 2008 after the EMS unit she was in struck a tree. Smith, meanwhile, was killed by a motorist in December of that year as she rendered care to an MVA victim.