Thursday, June 14, 2007

** Some New Brunswick ambulance dispatchers to lose jobs?

** Former Arizona paramedic convicted on sex charges

CANADA NEWS

** New Brunswick’s fall takeover of EMS could see several Saint John based dispatchers lose their jobs. That is the word from the CBC (June 14) which said the city, which currently handles ambulance, police, and fire calls, will lose EMS hails to Moncton. Currently, 20 full-time operators and supervisors work at Saint John’s public safety communications centre. While acknowledging job loss may accompany the change, Health Minister Mike Murphy said he expects to hire about 200 more paramedics between now and 2010. The Atlantic Paramedic Academy, meanwhile, graduates only about 70 medics each year.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A former Cave Creek, Arizona paramedic has been convicted of sexual assault in a case that involved attacks on seven separate women. The Associated Press (Joann Loviglio/June 12) said Philadelphia resident Jeffrey J. Marsalis, 34, still faces rape charges in a separate instance out of Sun Valley, Idaho. Extending from 2003 to 2005, the assaults occurred after Marsalis identified his victims through the Internet site Match.com. He then slipped something in their drink to both intoxicate and incapacitate them.In January of 2006, he was acquitted in three similar attacks. Sentencing has been set for September 18. He could face up to 20 years in prison.