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EMS Tips – 2017 LODDs – Personal Safety

I am taking a moment today to remember the colleagues we have lost in the line of duty. 1. EMS Line of Duty Deaths 2017 EMS1 reported 11 EMT or paramedic line of duty death incidents in 2017. 2. Police Officer Line of Duty Deaths 2017 The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund issued a preliminary […]

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Operations

Are you really going to arrest an ED nurse?

I also thought of titling this post, “What would Fonzie do?” but that seems like a pretty dated reference. Or perhaps “How would Barney Stinson have played this situation?” Detective Jeff Payne, a Utah police officer and paramedic since 1983, became a viral news sensation when he handcuffed an emergency department nurse who refused to let him […]

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News and Events

Cop vs. Paramedic – Get the full story before passing judgement

A confrontation between a police officer and paramedic outside an Ohio bar, captured on bystander video, went viral last week. It started a heated debate about who — if anyone — was at fault, and whether the short glimpse of action was enough to make a judgement about the paramedic or the officer’s actions being […]

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News and Events

What a President Trump Means for Public Safety

The only headline more popular this week than “How the media/pollsters/pundits got the election so wrong” was “What a President Trump means for Industry/Group/Business.” I have collected up the What Does Trump Mean for different public safety branches or groups, mostly from the Praetorian Digital family of websites. If you have other “What Trump means for […]

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EMS Tips

It’s time to rethink roadway safety

In 2016 two medical helicopters (Florida and New Mexico) have been struck by drunk drivers. Also struck by drunk drivers: Tow trucks and operators Police cruisers and law enforcement officers Ambulances and paramedics Fire trucks and firefighters It’s time to rethink roadway safety and apply hazardous materials concepts of time, distance and shielding. Read my […]

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Operations

Question: When a Patient Becomes Violent

On Facebook a friend asked, “Are there any precautions an EMT can take in the event that their patient turns on them?” And shared this link: CNN reporter bit 2 EMTs while in drunken rage No Such Thing as a Violent Patient A patient that turns violent is no longer a patient, even if intoxicated. […]

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Operations

Posts Outside the Service Area: Paramedics in the Warm Zone

At EMS1.com I share thoughts about new guidelines that among other things recommend paramedics, escorted by law enforcement, triage and treat patients in the warm zone. This is not without controversy, but is an acknowledgement of reality. Please share your comments and feedback.

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Health and Wellness

Boston Marathon Finish

I am safe. As many of you know I ran the Boston Marathon today. I finished 20-30 minutes before hearing two loud booms from several blocks away. At the time there was no indication to me or the people around me that it was a bomb explosion. It wasn’t until seeing many emergency vehicles going […]

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Health and Wellness

Alternate Posting Location: Physical Readiness for an Active Shooter Incident

In this EMS1.com column, Active Shooter Response: Are you physically ready?, I lay out what I believe may be some of the physical challenges related to EMS response. I definitely want you to defer to your local protocols and follow orders as issued by the incident command. But I also believe that the EMS response, much […]

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Social Media Tips

Video: Saving Lives is Part of the Job

News video of paramedics in Texas that responded to a school shooting. A few thoughts: 1. After a high profile incident does your service issue a statement to local media about the EMS response? 2. Do you contact local media and invite them to interview responders? 3. Use social media tools like Facebook and Twitter […]