** Funeral took place Saturday for Ontario paramedic who drowned
** Chicago Fire Department reverses itself on directive against flak jackets for paramedics
CANADA NEWS
** Funeral services for an Ontario paramedic, who drowned Thursday after his canoe capsized on an Owen
Sound waterway, were held Saturday. The commemoration for Essex-Windsor EMS practitioner Mahmoud
Diab Ghannam, 49, took place at The Dominion Mosque at 2 p.m. According to the obituary, Ghannam was
laid to rest at the Windsor Country Meadows Cemetery. He leaves behind a wife and three children.
The family was on vacation when the accident occurred. CBC Windsor (August 28) said Ghannam had
worked for Essex-Windsor for 11 years at the time of his death.
UNITED STATES NEWS
** Chicago paramedics wanting to protect themselves against violent patients and bystanders have finally been granted
permission to wear flak jackets over uniform shirts. That is the word from The Chicago Tribune (August 28)
which said the decision is a reversal of a previous fire department directive banning them. According to the
newspaper, political expediency likely played a role in the about face, with Mayor Rahm Emanuel directly
intervening to quell public heat on the matter. Official recognition of the policy change was dispatched to the
fire/EMS union Friday. The only restrictions on the gear are that they must be in an approved color and
brandish blue and white lettering that distinguishes medics from police. In addition, vests must be of
appropriate Type II-A quality and members must fund their purchase from their own pockets.Â
