** Funeral held for Minnesota paramedic killed in ambulance/car crash
** UK woman wants on-duty paramedics to be allowed to jump queues at supermarkets, cafes
UNITED STATES NEWS
** Funeral services were held Wednesday for a Mahtomedi, Minnesota paramedic killed October 9th in an ambulance/car crash. Fox 9 (October 18) said the commemoration for Marina Challeen, 24, took place at Mahtomedi’s St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church. According to the news service, the ceremony included an honour guard rifle salute and a helicopter flyover while Taps played. Prior to the funeral, some twelve ambulances escorted Challeen’s body as it was transported to the funeral home from the medical examiner’s office. Challeen’s partner continues to recover from injuries suffered in the accident. Minnesota State Patrol say they are still investigating the crash.
UNITED KINGDOM NEWSÂ
** A Norfolk woman is attempting to force grocery stores to allow EMS personnel to automatically jump ahead in waiting lines if they are in uniform. That is the word from the BBC (October 18) which said Emma Murtagh, 42, started a petition to send to supermarkets and cafes so that a national policy on the matter can be implemented. Murtagh, who once worked for an ambulance service as a secretary, said the move would show respect for emergency responders. So far, the Cut the Queue effort has gained 400 signatures. The signature drive ends November 1st.
