Thursday, July 21, 2011

** Baltimore Fire Chief suspends EMS testing after cheating

** BC urged to consider allowing air ambulances to carry blood for in-air transfusions

UNITED STATES NEWS

** Cheating by a group of trainee EMTs in Baltimore has resulted in the fire chief suspending EMS training. That is the word from the Daily Record (AP/July 18) which said Chief James Clack ordered an internal investigation into the matter Monday. According to the newspaper, a look-see by the Maryland Institute for EMS Systems found recruits had obtained an advanced copy of a June 14th test. It is unclear how many of the students participated in the scam. Department spokesman Kevin Cartwright said as a result of the cheating, the test will have to be readministered and members of the fire department will be subject to skills testing.

CANADA NEWS

** BC says it may consider allowing air ambulances to carry blood to facilitate in-air transfusions when necessary. CBC News (July 19) said the service made the comment in response to an appeal from a Kamloops mother whose daughter was given the life saving treatment while on holiday in Australia. According to the newspaper, Jen Condon, 23, became the first person to be given an in-flight transfusion by paramedics after being injured in a spring head-on crash in Melbourne. Condon suffered a fractured skull, lacerated liver, and broken pelvis. Australian ambulance service spokesman Anthony de Witt said blood transfusions save valuable time and are more effective than the standard saline fluid approach to stabilizing patients.