** Queensland, Australia launches campaign aimed at stopping assaults on paramedics
** Florida passes law for public records exemption for paramedics, EMTs
AUSTRALIA NEWS
** Billboards and television commercials will both be part of a new campaign in Queensland aimed at stemming attacks on paramedics. That is the word from 9News (March 31) which said the taxpayer funded initiative will cost $1.3 million. Dubbed the Zero Tolerance:No Excuse for Abuse campaign, the undertaking comes after some 3,300 health workers across the state were attacked in a 12 month period. Health Minister Cameron Dick said even one assault on a paramedic is too much. His comments were echoed by EMS practitioner Brad Johnson who said after he was attacked on the job he considered himself lucky to have walked away without a broken nose and teeth.
UNITED STATES NEWS
** Florida’s Governor Rick Scott signed 14 bills into law yesterday, including one which will exempt EMTs and paramedics from having their personal information made available to angry patients or other members of the public. The bill’s parameters cover addresses, telephone numbers, and dates of birth for emergency personnel. It also bans information access on their spouses and children. The Senate backed the legislation in February. Similar statutes already exist pertaining to law enforcement officers.
