Wednesday, September 21, 2011

** Alabama medic suffers close call in ACLS Refresher Course after suffering STEMI;colleagues aid him

** Tennessee medic suspended after making anti-gay remarks on personal Facebook page

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A Montgomery, Alabama paramedic, who suffered a STEMI while attending an ACLS Refresher course September 12, is expected to fully recover, thanks to the immediate intervention of colleagues. John Hayden Lee, 40, who works for Haynes Ambulance, said an on-duty medic outside the classroom came to his aid when he began to feel unwell. Transported to Jackson Hospital where three stents were inserted, he said the door to balloon time was ten minutes. Lee, who has been in EMS 7 years, said he had had a fitness test six weeks prior to the incident. He will likely return to duty by month’s close.

** EMS brass in Tennessee have suspended a Nashville paramedic who made anti-gay remarks on his personal Facebook page. The Tennessean (September 20) said Shelbyville resident Kevin Kennedy, who has worked EMS for two decades, has been sidelined without pay and must attend anger management and diversity training. According to the newspaper, Kennedy called two fellow medics queers and suggested they go back into the closet. Fire Chief Steve Halford said the suspension was issued last week. Deputy Chief Kim Lawson said Kennedy’s point-of-view interferes with good discipline.