Friday, June 22, 2007

** Calgary EMS institutes bariatric response team

** Toronto ambulances to retain troop support decals

** Mediation talks with Calgary medics’ union break down

** Alabama EMT faces more child sex charges

CANADA NEWS

** In an effort to deal with increasingly supersized patients, Calgary EMS in Alberta has created a bariatric response team. The Globe and Mail (Dawn Walton/June 21) said the team, which includes both specialized equipment and medics, is intended to handle patients weighing 500 – 1,000 pounds. The unit, being dubbed a first for the nation, is being lauded by Obesity Canada. President David Lau said the group is only responding to an ongoing trend when it comes to the overweight. Statistics Canada lists 24 per cent of citizens as obese in 2005. A Canadian Medical Association Journal study, meanwhile, said numbers of the morbidly obese have quadrupled over the last 12 years.

** After a public outcry over the removal of yellow ribbon decals supporting Canadian troops overseas, the City of Toronto has decided to let the stickers remain on 350 ambulances and fire trucks. The AHN (Marta Cyperling/June 21) said the decision, which will extend over the next year, resulted from city councillors intervening with a resolution to continue to allow the display. EMS and fire chiefs told the newspaper the initial removal order was routine, marking the end of a one year promotional campaign.

** Mediation talks involving Calgary’s EMS union have apparently broken down. That is the word from the Calgary Sun (Shawn Logan/June 21) which quoted Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3421 president Bruce Robb. Robb said salary issues and shift differentials continue to be the main sticking points. Declining to discuss details, Robb did say union members will examine the city’s latest contract offer on Friday and Monday. Calgary paramedics average about $75,000 in salary. The medics’ contract expired nearly one year ago.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A Monroeville, Alabama EMT, already charged with rape and sodomy in the case of a 12-year-old girl, has now had sexual torture and child porn possession and production charges added to his court saga. The Press Register (Connie Bagett/Russ Henderson/June 21) said Toby Parish, 33, who was arrested June 12, is currently being held pending the posting of a $5 million bail. Parish was taken into custody after police seized obscene computer and camera photos from his home. He had been released on a $500,000 bond last week after being processed for the initial charges. Parrish worked EMS for Monroeville’s Simmons Ambulance Service.