Tuesday, February 26, 2013

** Irish health authority faces trial over fatal fall of paramedic from moving ambulance

** Oklahoma flight paramedic in critical condition after air ambulance crash

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** The Health Services Executive (HSE) in Dublin, Ireland will apparently go on trial on charges relating to the death of a paramedic on June 3, 2010. That is the word from RTE News Ireland (February 25) which said the organization is being tagged under the Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act 2005. According to the newspaper, seven strikes have been alleged against the organization in relation to the death of Simon Sexton, 43, who fell from a moving ambulance. Among the accusations are a failure to ensure equipment was safe and a failure to ensure that systems of work were properly planned, performed, maintained, and updated. Training, supervision, and employee welfare issues will also factor in at trial. The Independent (Tom Tuite/February 25) said the next court date for the case is March 22.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** An Oklahoma flight paramedic is in critical condition in hospital after the chopper he was in crashed Friday in front of an Oklahoma City nursing home. The Associated Press (Sean Murphy/February 25) said Billy Winn is currently being treated at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center. Two other crew members died in the crash. They have been identified as pilot Mark Montgomery and flight nurse Chris Denning. According to the newspaper, the patient on board the EagleMed flight also died. The aircraft was based out of Integris-Baptist Medical Center. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators were already at the crash site by late Friday.