“Call 911” written and performed by Farooq Muhammad and directed by Christopher Marquardt is a catchy rap that aired publicly during EMS Week and has been viewed on YouTube over 14,000 times.

Made to be an EMS recruitment video it’s cool just to watch and see the action. The video features the Crews of Battalion 38 in Central Brooklyn “Kings of the County” hard at work.

Whether or not you’re in the EMS field it’s hard not to watch this music video and see how many medical supplies you can spot. Obviously, this is nowhere near all of them but here’s a head start: stethoscope, rescue bags, backboard straps, cervical collar, AED pads, bag valve mask, backboard, blood pressure cuff – there’s plenty more. Have fun and enjoy the music!

Source: JEMS.com

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Who knew? New Line/Platinum Dunes is remaking A Nightmare on Elm Street. If you’re not a horror film buff or at least A Nightmare on Elm Street fan why do you care? Joan Philo Casting is currently seeking real life police officers, firefighters and paramedics for non-speaking roles. These are paid positions people. If you’re interested here are the requirements:

If you meet the requirements check out fangoriaonline.com for the email address and specifics you need to send about yourself to be considered for the role. Maybe you could butter up the casting director if you offer to bring along one of those Simulaids Deluxe Simulation Kits with all the flesh wounds, burns, blood, you know the one. Or, how about the forensic science wound package – including shotgun close range wound, exit gunshot wound, contact wound, ice pick exit wound and more.

Freddy’s back.

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Riverside County paramedics are no longer allowed to insert breathing tubes in children under nine years old. Dr. Humberto Ochoa, medical director for the Riverside County EMS Agency, suspended the procedure on April 27. Los Angeles and Orange Counties have not used the procedure for years, however nearby San Bernardino County is still allowed to practice intubation on children.

The need to intubate a young child, technically called pediatric endotracheal intubation, is not a common practice among paramedics. The procedure is not simple and if done incorrectly (using the wrong size equipment, placing the tube in the esophagus instead of the trachea) carries a high risk of serious complications.

Instead of pediatric intubations paramedics are instructed to use bag valve masks. Ochoa referenced a well-known study in Los Angeles, albeit ten years old, that showed using bag valve masks outside of a hospital setting to help children breathe was just as effective as intubation.

Dr. Daniel Davis, professor of clinical medicine at UC San Diego and regional medical director for Mercy Air Medical Services, said that for every argument that suggests the procedure should not be used outside hospitals, there is another that suggests it should.

Davis noted that technology is always changing in regards to the well-known study Ochoa spoke of. For example, there is a device available to paramedics that monitors the concentration of carbon dioxide in exhaled breath and can show if the tube has been inserted incorrectly. While Davis agrees the mask is generally effective, there are situations, such as an allergic reaction which could cause the airway to swell shut before reaching the hospital, where intubation would be the better choice.

Each procedure has its pros and cons and has caused much debate. What if the nearest hospital is far away and the situation called for intubation, shouldn’t paramedics be able to go ahead with the procedure? What is the protocol at your department?

Source: PE.com

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Firefighters in Plano, Texas who are considered unfit are being asked to shape up or they may be asked to ship out. Plano Fire Chief Hugo Esparza is pushing that the departments waistline-challenged shape up or face a desk reassignment or possible termination if they do not comply or fail to slim down within a year.

Chief Esparza is looking out for the health and safety of his department but he has his own obstacle: the firefighters union. The union supports the goal however they feel that some of the requirements are over the top and would prefer to reward firefighters for good fitness. The annual fitness tests would include monitoring body fat, strength and heart health according to age and gender.

“Firefighters are certainly not the poster children for nutrition, and we’re all for improving health, but obviously, we’re never happy about having our jobs on the line” felt Scott Kerr, president of the Plano Firefighters Association.

While responding to emergency calls firefighters lug heavy rescue equipment and medical supplies on them however when they’re idle at the station it’s not as if they can take a jog around the block.

National studies suggest that firefighters are up to three times more likely to have heart problems than the general public. Firefighters also have to contend with stress, abnormal sleep habits and long shifts waiting on the next call.

To encourage physical activity the city of Plano is investing millions in exercise equipment and gym space at its 12 fire stations. In addition, supervisors will be required to extend staff at least one hour of workout time per shift.

Plano isn’t the first department to incorporate a fitness regimen. Dallas phased in a policy after a number of firefighters died of heart attacks in the 1990s. Carrollton, Irving and Farmers Branch are also on the health bandwagon.

Is it out of line for Plano to take these fitness measures? Should physical fitness standards be a job requirement?

Source: DallasNews.com

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The economic downturn has resulted in many looking for ways to cut costs. In Columbus, Ohio an economic advisory committee suggested comparing the costs and benefits of returning to a basic emergency medical system as opposed to sticking with the advanced support that has been provided for more than forty years.

Basic Life Support (BLS) primarily consists of patient stabilization before a patient is transferred to a hospital. This includes stabilizing a broken bones or using an automatic external defibrillator (AED) on cardiac-arrest patients.

Advanced Life Support (ALS) allows highly trained paramedics to administer lifesaving drugs, create airways in patients who aren’t able to breathe and shock heart attack patients on the way to the hospital.

In order to support their ideas the economic advisory committee, led by lawyer Robert F. Howarth, refers to a 2005 study (based on previous studies, the majority over a decade old) published in the Journal of Prehospital and Disaster Medics that concluded patients fared about the same whether receiving BLS or ALS.

While most would view going from ALS to BLS as a step backward the economic advisory committee seriously considering taking that step back in time all the way to 1968 (the last time the Columbus Division of Fire provided only BLS).

Jack Reall, president of the Columbus Firefighters Union commented, “I can’t see the citizens of our community changing from an (advanced) system to a (basic) system in order to save 3 percent of the budget.”

This past Wednesday the San Antonio Fire Department incorporated a new program in order to save time and money. It’s a similar concept to the BLS vs. ALS however instead of taking away a whole service they added to it. In addition to the 32 ambulances ready to respond there are six more ambulances called Basic Life Support Ambulances geared towards minor emergency responses.

The 9-1-1 dispatchers (whom are all trained paramedics) will carefully screen calls to determine whether or not an ALS trained paramedics responds to a call.

Chief Charles Hood commented that of the 170 people taken daily to the hospital, about 80 only need basic life support.

What do you think? Is it better to cut corners and save some money since a 2005 study leads readers to conclude that whether a patient receives advanced or basic life support there won’t be much difference in the outcome. Or, would it be better to have both BLS and ALS ambulances and not take a chance on saving someone’s life that really needs ALS?

Sources: Dispatch Politics, WOAI.com

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Ann Landers may have passed on but her advice column still hits home. Compliments of Creators.com check out this letter that was written to Ann from an EMT in Memphis, TN.

Dear Ann Landers: I am tired of people who refer to emergency medical technicians and paramedics as “ambulance drivers.” There is a great deal of education involved in being an EMT or a paramedic, from initial training courses to continuing education classes.

We do not go to school and attend seminars to be “drivers.” We spend long hours studying so that we can provide the best possible emergency care to the people in our communities. When we are called to accident scenes, we use our knowledge to save lives.

Ann, I love my job, but it is frustrating to walk into a home and hear someone say, “The ambulance drivers are here.” Please make it clear to your readers that we don’t just drive the ambulances; we save lives. — An EMT in Memphis, Tenn.

Dear EMT: You made it clear. I’m pleased to remind people of the splendid work done by paramedics and emergency medical technicians. Thank you for the opportunity to give them the praise they deserve.

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The Pledge:

“I pledge to wear my seat belt whenever I am riding in a Fire Department vehicle. I further pledge to insure that all my brother and sister firefighters riding with me wear their seat belts. I am making this pledge willingly; to honor Brian Hunton my brother firefighter because wearing seat belts is the right thing to do.”

For one year Firefighter Brian Hunton was a member of the Amarillo Texas Fire Department. On April 23, 2005 while responding to an alarm he fell out of his fire truck. He died two days later from his injuries. He was only 27.

As of November 28, 2008 The National Fire Service and EMS Seatbelt Pledge is officially supported internationally by NIOSH. Also as of November 28, 2008, North Carolina leads the nation in the number of 100% compliant departments. Is your department in compliance? When the alarm goes off the time is ticking, you get yourself and your rescue gear together and you go but do you take that moment to buckle up?

Check out this video on the importance of buckling up:

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

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The awesome colored leaves in your neighborhood have probably dried out by now and are begging to be stomped on making that great crunching noise. You know what that means – no, not just the end of October – Halloween! Who doesn’t dig dressing up and getting candy? Whether you’re a skeleton, witch or this year’s “it” character have fun and stay safe. Here are some tricks ‘n tips for both the young and the young at heart:

Wishing all a safe and spooky Halloween!

Sources: American Red Cross and Los Angeles Fire Department

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Mohawk Ambulance started with one ambulance in 1964. Today Mohawk Ambulance has 28 ambulances, over 200 employees and provides medical services to over 50,000 patients a year. Check out this video with interviews from Mohawk Ambulance employees and testimonials from community members.

Mowhawk Ambulance is a strong and appreciated presence among local police departments, fire departments and hospitals. Police Officers, Firefighters, Paramedics, and nurses alike all had praise for this outstanding ambulance company. Not only does Mohawk Ambulance provide outstanding pre-hospital services, they volunteer in not only their community but nationally, including traveling to New Orleans to provide Hurricane Katrina relief.

Emergency Medical Products is proud to support Mohawk Ambulance Service. Tell Emergency Medical Products about your department. Make a comment, upload a video, and share your story.

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Sue Lani is a Volunteer EMT in Edwall, WA. Watch this short video on why she chooses to volunteer her time as an EMT. Take a moment and comment on why you chose to become an EMT.

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