Thursday, January 3, 2013

** UK man charged after allegedly stealing gas from ambulances outside hospitals

** EMS scholarship fund created in memory of Michigan EMT

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** Bedford police have arrested an area man for allegedly siphoning gas from ambulances parked outside emergency departments. That is the word from the BBC (December 31) which said Benjamin Clark, 24, was also charged with taking air cylinders from EMS units. According to the news site, the thefts took place over a period of days around December 17. Four separate incidents are involved.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** By way of paying tribute to a Michigan EMT who died in an early morning car crash in November, a scholarship fund has been created for those wanting to pursue an EMS degree. Michigan Live (Julie Mack/December 26) said the fund, in honour of Kalamazoo practitioner Brittany Despins, 22, is being overseen by the Battle Creek Community Foundation. According to the newspaper, scholarships will be available to Calhoun County residents seeking degrees at Despins’ alma mater Kellogg Community College. Initial awards will be given in 2014. Despins died November 18th alongside fellow EMT Trevor Stuck. The two had been in a car around 3:16 a.m. when the driver lost control and the vehicle rolled. Though Despins survived the initial mishap and was even rendering care to Stuck, she died after being hit by a Jeep that also lost control on the same highway patch.