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EMS Tips

EMS Tips – Safe Injection Sites – Who Owns Diversion Problem

1. Mass. considers monitored injection sites What if injecting heroin was in a controlled, monitored and clean environment? The state’s opioid battle has prompted some lawmakers to endorse the idea of “supervised injection sites” as another way to reduce overdose deaths. “The Massachusetts Medical Society and the Massachusetts Hospital Association back the idea. In a […]

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EMS Tips

EMS Tips – Active Shooter NFPA Standard – Retirement Age – Failure to Yield

1. Active Shooter NFPA Standard 3000 NFPA 3000, Standard for Preparedness and Response to Active Shooter and/or Hostile Events, gives guidance on active shooter or active threat preparedness and response (EMS1.com). “Hostile events are happening with greater frequency and ferocity today. It’s critical that we take steps to protect people from this increasing threat,” NFPA president […]

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EMS Tips

EMS Tips – Executive Time – 9-1-1 TV Show

1. Executive Time is for Learning  Axios reported that a large portion of President Trump’s schedule is devoted to “Executive Time” and alleges this mostly means Trump is watching television, tweeting and phoning pals. The White House counters that Trump is important meetings and calling legislators. Regardless of how Trump uses his executive time there […]

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EMS Tips

EMS Tips – Body Armor – Airway Management

1. EMS body armor (EMS1.com) A Pa. EMS agency announced a purchase of 15 ballistic vests for it’s personnel. “The department recently purchased 15 ballistic vests. (EMS Chief Robert) Weidner said that is enough vests for all personnel on Yellow Breeches’ five ambulances.” That likely means the vests are assigned to rigs not people. “Weidner […]

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EMS Tips

EMS Tips – Distracted Driving Carrot or Stick – Zero Commercial Aviation Fatalities

1. Carrot, stick or both to reduce distracted driving Christina Dempsey, a Virginia firefighter-paramedic, is pushing for tougher distracted driving laws in her state. “I really want to see this law go through. It may help prevent other families from going through what my family has and continues to go through.” On Aug. 27, 2013, […]

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Uncategorized

Uber and Ambulances

Two economists conclude that Uber availability has reduced EMS ambulance transport by 7 percent in major U.S. cities. Really? I have been writing about Uber and ambulances for a couple of years and I am always a proponent of patients receiving the right care (which includes transport as a treatment) at the right time. Read […]

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News and Events

Reports from Pinnacle EMS Conference 2017

I attended the Pinnacle EMS Conference in Boca Raton, Fla. last week. I wrote quick take articles for many of the sessions I attended. What’s the future of EMS? – a facilitated discussion on the EMS Agenda 2050 Fatigue in EMS: Preview of an evidence-based guideline – early glimpse at the recommendations coming from the Fatigue in […]

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Make Alexa your Ambulance Partner

On a whim – which I rarely have – I purchased the Amazon Echo device through a Prime member pre-purchase offer. I have been enamored with Alexa ever since setting up the device in my kitchen and regularly imagine Alexa (or Google or Siri) as an ambulance partner. Those day dreams, along with everyday use […]

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Trying to Make Sense of FDNY EMT LODD

FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo, 44, a 14-year veteran of the department and mother of five, was killed Thursday night in the line of duty. Her killer has been arrested and charged with murder. On Friday, like EMS providers everywhere, I tried to make sense of this terrible tragedy in an EMS1 article (Learning from the […]

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Can state lawmakers make EMS safer?

EMS is receiving a flurry of attention from state-level lawmakers. In a recent EMS1 article I cataloged some of the recently proposed legislation and the chance it will actually make EMS providers safer from violence, traumatic stress and vehicle collisions. What legislation will actually make EMS providers safer?