Tuesday, May 25, 2010
** Pennsylvania EMS brass take it on chin for costly prehospital photo shoot
** Female UK medic up in arms after drunken assailant released from jail
UNITED STATES NEWS
** EMS brass is Pennsylvania are taking it on the chin after spending thousands of dollars on a photo aimed at promoting prehospital services. That is the word from the Pittsburgh Tribune Review (Tom Fontaine/May 21) which said the shot, taken at Pittsburgh’s airport, required the attendance of 2 choppers and some 10 per cent of the 10-county area ambulance fleet. According to the newspaper, the picture has raised the ire of pundits who say the undertaking was an unnecessary extravagance during tough economic times. Pittsburgh EMS division chief Bob Farrow, however, said no equipment was taken out of service to participate. Others taking part said personnel assisting were not on duty. The photo will be used on a calendar and in a variety of other PR materials.
UNITED KINGDOM NEWS
** A female Manchester paramedic is up in arms, after the drunken student who attacked her during a New Year’s Eve call served only four days in jail. The Manchester Evening News (May 21) quoted medic Ann Sumner, 43, as saying the decision to release Melissa Massey, 20, on appeal sends a bad message to those seeking to attack EMS workers. Massey, who was originally sentenced last Monday to eight weeks in the clink, has been handed a two year suspended sentence. According to the newspaper, she set upon Sumner while the latter attended her, pulling out clumps of the provider’s hair and socking her in the face. Massey’s attorney said the girl attacked Sumner because a previous childhood experience with medical personnel left her apprehensive.
