Passing of Clay Finley

It is with great sadness that we report the death of one of our own.
Clay Finley was found dead in his home yesterday (December 27 2009) by his wife of four months. Clay had been ill, and had left work early on Christmas day. The cause of death is undetermined at this point.

Clay came to work at MEMS October 2008 with Rookie 12. He had been primarily working at the Sherwood station. He was a BLS Lead.

We are still working on the funeral plans, there will be EMS participation. Please remember this family in your prayers.
Greg

Passing of David Taylor

Arkansas EMS Director David Taylor died today, November 5, 2009 at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas after suffering an apparent acute myocardial infarction. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, family, colleagues, friends and the extended EMS family who mourn his untimely passing.

Tentative arrangements for him are funeral at 10AM Monday. We will post more information as we get it. Please keep them in your prayers. For more information, you may contact Med-Tech EMS at (501) 354-8181.

Two people were killed in Ambulance

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Two people were killed when an ambulance was involved in a crash with a Tennessee Department of Transportation truck on Interstate 65 North on Thursday afternoon.



The crash occurred near the Wedgewood Avenue exit at about 2:50 p.m.

The driver of the ambulance, David Cline, and a patient inside the ambulance, Sue Bly, were both killed. Cline was a Franklin, Tenn., firefighter who was working off-duty.

"The ambulance was traveling without the emergency lights and transporting an elderly woman from her dialysis treatment back to her retirement home. For reasons unknown at this time, the ambulance rear-ended the TDOT truck," said Kristin Mumford, Metro Police.

An off-duty Metro firefighter, Evans Johnson, who was inside the ambulance and working as an EMT for the ambulance company, was also hurt in the wreck. Johnson was taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center and in critical but stable condition.

The driver of the TDOT vehicle, Robert Green, was taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center but released on Friday.

The ambulance belongs to a private company that was based in Franklin, Tenn.

When the crash occurred, the TDOT truck was pulled over in the emergency lane without its hazard lights on.

However, TDOT policy says the lights only have to be flashing when a worker is outside the vehicle helping a driver. So, it was still unclear why the TDOT truck had pulled over.

The Franklin Fire Department will provide grief counseling to its firefighters.

The Franklin city manager issued a statement on Friday night echoing the sentiment that Cline will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.

Check your equipment

This is a story from EMS Magazine. Good reason to check your equipment every day.

Dead Defib, Dead Patient Equals $3.2M Award Against Chicago

The family of a 49-year-old man who died of a heart attack after a
defibrillator on the Chicago Fire engine sent to resuscitate him did not
work -- because the batteries hadn't been replaced -- will receive $3.2
million under a settlement advanced Monday by a City Council committee.

Frederick Partyka, a stationary engineer who worked for the city, was using
a snow blower in front of his home in the 2700 block of North New England
when he collapsed on Jan. 22, 2005.

Partyka's son, a paramedic with the Hillside Fire Department, witnessed the
incident, called 911 and administered CPR to his father while waiting for
help.


When the fire engine arrived at 3:16 p.m., the paramedic found Partyka in
ventricular tachycardia, a life-threatening condition. But when the
paramedic attempted to shock Partyka's heart back into rhythm, the
defibrillator didn't work, a lawyer for the Partyka family said. The
batteries were old and did not hold a charge.


When the old batteries were replaced with spare batteries, the defibrillator
powered off again, the lawyer said. At 3:22 p.m., an ambulance arrived with
a working defibrillator. But it was too late. Partyka was already dead.


"The industry standard required -- and the manufacturer recommended -- that
this particular defibrillator battery had to be replaced every two years,"
said Susan Schwartz, an attorney representing the Partyka family.


"But, on Jan. 22, 2005, no battery had been purchased by the city since
October 2000. They didn't properly maintain the batteries for these
defibrillators."


During Monday's Finance Committee meeting, First Deputy Corporation Counsel
Karen Seimetz told aldermen that the defibrillators used on that day were
replaced in March 2005. The new version uses batteries "automatically
changed out with the manufacturer every two years," she said.


"In the thousands and thousands and thousands of times these defibrillators
have been used, this is the first known instance where this has ever
occurred," she said.


Under questioning from aldermen, Seimetz acknowledged that no one knows
whether a working defibrillator would have saved Partyka.


But, she said, "The problem is under the law, if there's any percentage
chance that a person could have survived but for the alleged negligence,
that's enough to recover [damages]. Even though he had an underlying heart
disease, this might have made the difference. There was no damage to the
heart on autopsy."

Facebook is a great way to keep in contact with friends, and relatives. However, the wrong use of Facebook has caused its share of problems. I want to remind you that HIPPA forbids us from posting pictures or information in this public forum. In the past few weeks it is reported that an RN at a local hospital was fired for taking a patients picture. I understand that this tool should be private, but the fact that its usage is about being public with the day to day events of our lives. Remember that anything placed on the internet it is forever and could come back to haunt us later in life.

Please be careful!!!

Below is a news article that was sent to me today.

A firefighter accused of putting a patient's photo on Facebook was suspended today, after he apologized for what he said was a "bone-headed" decision.

The Board of Public Safety voted to suspend firefighter Jordan Jostes for 30 days without pay for posting the photo taken with his cell phone camera to the social networking site Facebook.

Jostes, wearing a black suit, told board members that he did not want a hearing to dispute the allegations.

"It was my decision, which I admitted was bone-headed, to put the picture up on Facebook," Jostes said.

But Jostes said he was also the first to recognize that posting the photo was wrong, and that he took it off of the Web site a few hours after it was posted.

Jostes also told the board that he took the photo, which allegedly showed the inside of the ambulance as well as the patient, at the request of a doctor who was riding in the ambulance.

That fact, however, didn't sway board members who voted to accept Chief Howard Buchanon's recommended suspension, which states that Jostes violated department policy against using cameras or cell phones during emergency calls.

MEMS has a new parka.

MEMS has been looking into a new parka for several months now, attached is the parka that’s been selected. HOWEVER PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COLOR WILL BE DARK NAVY & ANSI YELLOW (NOT THE ROYAL BLUE) we didn’t have a good pick of the navy.

The coat is a 5.11 Responder Parka and comes as a 2-piece design. The outer shell is a very durable finish of dark navy, and ANSI Yellow and the inner liner is a fleece style. The coat can be worn as a set, or you can wear just the parka or the fleece liner by itself. The cost is approx $275.00, but remember the coat is about $75.00 more the spiewak we currently wear. The lead time for the initial order is about 5 weeks, so you will need to get your coat on order asap. All new orders for parka will be this style. If you have a spiewak coat, you will still be able to wear it as long as you like. The Blauer brand is still authorized to wear as well. The outer shelf will have the MEMS logo screened on the back, and the fleece liner will have the MEMS patch and your name embroidered on the chest. If you have any questions, please see louis.

New AEDs

This is the Phillips HeartStart FRx. We have seven(7) of them, and they are ready to go. . The idea is to use them specifically on the BLS units, and move the Medtronic AEDs to support and back up rolls such as special events. Janelle’s department has two(2) of the trainers for this unit. Below are pics of the components that make up the unit.

This is the standard defib pads that will go with the AED

This key allows the AED adult defib pads to be used during a pedi event. The weight guidelines are printed on front of the key. All the medic has to do is plug the key into the slot provided and its ready to go…….

We will be putting out an in service video soon. Hey are very basic and should be fairly intuitive to use. As always please make yourself familiar before checking one out.

H1N1

You’ve likely heard by now. After weeks of hesitating, the World Health Organization has declared the H1N1 virus infections to be a Level 6 on the pandemic scale, which means a pandemic has been announced. The thing is this... you are still the same. My life is still the same. Nothing has changed from the five minutes before the announcement and five minutes after the announcement. That’s what people need to remember before beginning to panic.

How long can influenza viruses stay alive?

According to the standard information we have, the virus stays alive on your hands for about five minutes. It can stay alive on your clothing for up to 12 hours and it can exist on objects for up to 48 hours.

How do infections like influenza get transmitted?

There are five ways infections can be transmitted:

1. Skin to skin contact (scabies, for example)

2. Droplet (cold viruses coughed into the air and breathed in)

3. Airborne (much tinier viruses that hang around in the air, like H1N1 virus)

4. Common (an contagious person drinks from a water bottle, you drink from it moments later)

5. Insects (malaria, for example)

How can we protect ourselves from infections like influenza?

It can’t be stressed enough: hand washing – and proper hand washing, not just rinsing your hands under the water. Here is a site that has a good video showing how to wash your hands with either soap and water or sanitizer.

Hand washing breaks the infection chain. A pathogen (virus, bacteria, fungus) needs to be able to spread. Once it spreads, it has to have a good host (good living conditions) to flourish. If we stop it from spreading, then it can’t get any further.

Let’s not forget about maintaining a clean, safe environment in both the back and front of our trucks.

Ron

Thank You From The EAP

Not a good news story

A former ambulance driver who was involved in a crash that killed a passenger in April 2008 pleaded not guilty Monday to multiple charges, including murder, a spokesman for the Jefferson County commonwealth's attorney's office said.
Advertisement

Tammy Renee Brewer also was charged with assault, driving under the influence, wanton endangerment and criminal mischief in the death of 54-year-old Vickie Whobrey.

Brewer was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury Thursday.

She allegedly was driving an ambulance while under the influence of drugs when she swerved off Rockford Lane and hit a utility pole and rolled through two ditches while Whobrey was in the back. The ambulance came to rest in a yard. Brewer told investigators she swerved to avoid a pedestrian who had darted in front of the ambulance.

Brewer had also been due to appear in court Friday after she was cited in March of this year for not having proof of insurance after an noninjury accident on Interstate 65 in which it was determined she was at fault.

When she failed to show up for a hearing to determine whether she had paid a $1,000 fine and court costs, a bench warrant was issued for her arrest, but the warrant was recalled after Brewer showed up for her arraignment in the April 2008 incident Monday, said Bill Patteson, a spokesman for the Jefferson County attorney's office.

Patteson said Brewer had been sentenced to 90 days in jail in June because of the March incident, but she was conditionally discharged and did not spend any time in jail.

In January 2008, just months before the ambulance crash, Brewer was caught speeding in a school zone near Bates Elementary on Bardstown Road. She was charged with going 23 mph over the limit, no proof of insurance and an expired license plate, according to arrest records.

And in September 2006, Brewer was charged with having expired insurance and an expired license plate after she was involved in an accident in the 5800 block of Bardstown Road.

Brewer was driving personal vehicles in those incidents.

MEMS Academy hits two home runs!!

Congratulations to Medic 7 on a 100% pass rate on their National Registry practical test





Congratulations to Rookie 14 on a 100% pass rate for their National Registry test.

New BLS Units Ordered

We are trying to take pressure off the ALS emergency side of the house. We have hired more full time EMTs and just order two more type 2 Wheeled Coach units. They should be delivered in 30 45 days. The newly hired EMTs will complete 2-3 weeks of classroom training and then will start out as drivers on BLS shifts. This is a departure of our normal way of doing business. Starting on the BLS units will allow time for learning geography, radio traffic, MEMS system etc.. in a slower setting. As FTO's become available they will move to the ALS side and resume their ALS training.

Vet Medicine ??

Trying out the "Howler"

In an effort to give you the best tools, we are evaluating one of the latest in emergency warning devices; the “Howler” The Howler provides deep, low frequency tones, which are able to penetrate other vehicles, alerting drivers and pedestrians of your approach.
They are currently being tested by LRFD, NLRFD and ASP. We placed it on 954 since the pickup style vehicles seem to have the most trouble getting noticed by traffic. If this works well, we are looking at putting them on the entire fleet.

New Valium Packaging

MEMS Challenge Coins & 25th Anniversary Artwork

MEMS’ Challenge Coins and 25th Anniversary Artwork are here!!!

The Challenge Coins are serialized (101 thru ???) and will be issued based upon current seniority.

The artwork, by Jim Mullenax, is specific to MEMS and was drawn in honor of our 25th Anniversary!

If you have been a full-time employee, in good standing for more than one year, you are eligible to receive these gifts. Employees who have not completed one year of full time employment must wait until their anniversary date to receive theirs.

These items will be available for pick-up from Lee Harper beginning this Thursday, July 16, 2009.

110/12 Volt A/C System

As you know cooling a unit is quite the task these days, especially when you add the problem with not being able to idle the unit all the time. We are beginning the process of moving some units around to help combat this problem.

Plugging the unit in, even in the summer
The Chevy units are not able to be idled for long periods of time. There is a new exhaust system that actually clogs up and causes the unit to run at reduced power if the unit idles too long. This could be quite a problem when given an emergency. To combat this we began to move to a 110/12 Volt A/C system a few years ago. This means, that when you plug it into a shore line, the A/C as well as the heat works. We are moving these units to the outlying stations during the summer months, some of the units will remain in the city. The goal is to have all our fleet equipment with a system like this to reduce idling time, and heat problems.

We are having signs made for the interior as well as the exterior to remind you to plug in the truck to keep it cool.
Unit 507 has a generator on it. We will be placing it on a 12 hour city car fulltime to test its ability to reduce idle time. This unit has its own unique procedure to be followed.

Setting the high idle
When you do have to idle a truck on scene, be sure to always set your emergency brake which enables the high idle. This helps the unit cool, as well as reduces the strain on the alternator. Failure to do this is causing some real issues. So you will know, the high idle causes the fan to run faster, causing the engine to run cooler, I know it sounds like it is going to blow up, but it really is better for the unit.

Idling at the hospitals
While I am talking about idling, the hospitals are asking us once again, to kill the units when in their ER bay. Our noise and exhaust are causing a problem in their building. Please respect this wish.


The following units have a 110/12 volt A/C system
126, 136, 137, 138, 228, 232, 415, 416, 420, 425, 502, 504, 513, 514, 519, 522, 609

5.11 Polo Shirts

Many of you have already made the switch to the 5.11 polo shirts (it’s the style w/ the pen pocket on the left sleeve). The polos have held up very well and has become the predominate polo ordered lately. Because of these issues, I have spoke w/ Greg about making it our official uniform polo shirt. Greg agreed and approved for us to make the switch. So, MEMS made a purchase of approx 800 polo shirts that’s (navy and long and short sleeve). The polo shirts are being embroidered right now and should be ready for orders to be filled next week. If you have ordered polos within the last week or so, give me a just a few more days, and you’ll be ready to go. If you have any questions, let me know. By the way, you can order your polo shirts on line through the MEMS Company Store, so you don’t have to fill out paperwork and leave on my desk, you can order them from the comfort of your house.

Company Store is up and running, so have a look…….
10 Minute Fitness is available, so get your butt in shape………
5.11 polos are the new polos, so update your shirts, if they need to be…….


As always, if you have any questions, please see Louis

10 Minute Fitness

I have all of the detail worked out and we now have an arrangement with 10 Minute Fitness centers for our exercise program. 10 Minute Fitness has 2 locations 1 in Little Rock (hwy 10) and the other in North Little Rock (by McCain). The store have 24 hrs access during the week and open approx 16 hours each day on Saturday and Sunday. 10 Minute Fitness has all of the modern conveniences for weight and cardio training.

The arrangement is: 10 Minute Fitness will wave the $50.00 sign on fee and MEMS will payroll deduct the membership dues which are $10.00 per month (so you’re looking at $5.00 per pay period) that’s not a bad deal at all considering the resources that will be available to you. If you would like anything additional (i.e. tanning, personal training, they are available but you’ll have to work those option directly w/ 10 Minute Fitness). To get started, see Louis to fill out.

MEMS Company Store

Some of you may know and some may not, but MEMS now has an On-Line Company Store. The store is up and running and open for business. You can find it on line @ at our web address www.metroems.org. You’ll the see the “Company Store” box, just click on it and away you go. If you’ve ever ordered on line before, the store will look very familiar, if you haven’t ordered on line before, it’ll very easy to follow. Its important to know that we no long keep items like t-shirts, ball caps toboggans, etc on hand here at sta.1 so plan accordingly.

All you have to do is go through the items available for purchase, make you selections, and check out. When you check out, YOU WILL NOT BE ASKED FOR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION. Your order will be sent to my email, and I’ll get your order taken care. I will forward your order to store that warehouse’s our inventory, and the order will be here the same day or the very next day. The system has been in place for a couple weeks and has been working fine. Items that are approved Uniform Allowance will be posted to your uniform allowance, and items that are payroll deduct, will be deducted from your payroll check. If you have any questions, please see me. Also, fyi this will be order method for the sweat shirt order we use to do once a year. These type of items will be available year round.

Link to store

New Glucose Meters Coming

You will be seeing a new glucose meter on your ambulance in the next week. We decided to evaluate a new meter for several reasons and found the following differences:


a). Current meter takes 20 seconds to produce glucose result, Contour (new meter) takes only 5 seconds, Blood sample can be obtained from a capillary or venous site.



b). Current meter requires a code strip (to calibrate) and it must be checked regularly, Contour doesn’t require any type of coding or calibrating of the meter before the strips are added.



c). Current meter hi/low display is 500-20 range, Contour blood glucose range is 600 -10 range

The cost are the same between the meters. We believe after the field test, and the differences noted above the Contour meter will better fit our needs.

It functions the same as the old with the exceptions of.
1. No need to calibrate
2. The strips are stored in a small bottle and not packaged individually

NOTE- venous blood or capillary blood is acceptable to this unit

Great Work

I noticed two things in reviewing reports that I want to say job well done.


Response Times for June
While I am still premature, I wanted to acknowledge the effort that is being made to make our response times. While I know that there are several factors that the crew does not have any control over, there are several that you do such as reaction times, turn times, knowledge of where you are going etc, , and overall everyone seems to be managing these better.

Driving Report
I noticed on the latest driving report that we have improved significantly in backing with a spotter. As you know backing accidents are one of our largest preventable expenses.


I know I get busy sometimes and miss the opportunity to say job well done and Thank You, I did not want to miss this opportunity.

Great Job!


Greg

Pictures Available

We have posted some of the pictures of the anniversary banquet on line. The MEMS history Documentary is in final edit, I will let you know when it is available. Thank you again for making it a fun day!
Greg

on-line album

Swine Flu

The new strain of flu has been a part of our news over the past few days. We are meeting with our area health depart staff to monitor any activity form this strain in Arkansas. Let me remind you that we treat this threat like we would any other air or droplet borne exposure.

The following is an excerpt from a Health Department release from Dallas County today:


1. Any providers approaching an individual who appears sick with a fever AND who has a cough OR difficulty breathing should first place a mask on themselves,including eye protection, and should wear gloves. The mask should preferably be one that offers protection at an N95 mask level or higher.

2. After protecting themselves with the mask, eye protection, and gloves, providers should place a similar mask on the patient, if it can be tolerated. It is understandable that patients with shortness of breath may not tolerate such a mask, especially if oxygen is being administered or possibly CPAP.

Nebulize through the Boussignac CPA

Yes you can………

Nebulize through the Boussignac CPAP System

Congratulations Carla!

Carla Kelley was honored on April 11th, 2009, as the Faulkner County Veterans of Foreign Wars Paramedic of the Year. Carla was honored for her dedication to EMS, much of it in Faulkner County, her strong skills, and her compassion for her patients. She was a unanimous choice by the Foxtrots.

North Pulaski

I don't know what those crews are up to in North Pulaski, but here is a note and few pics from them.....

Of all the things that are on the blog, the goat did not make it? Not sure how I should take that. He could be one of our most famous future employees William "Billy" A. Goat.

Gratitude from a PT's family

Wife of a patient express her sincere gratitude to Medics Terra McDougald and Adam Weiser. PT's wife said that the CPAP is a wonderful device that helped her husband so much. Got his Pulse Ox saturation from the low 80’s to the high 90’s by the time he got to the hospital. He did not have to be intubated, but is still in ICU Dx with CHF.


She said “I will stand on the curb and clap for MEMS whenever they go by our home!”



Great Job Terra and Adam.

325 (soon to be 425) update

By the way 228 is now at Excellance, we are still working on the cause of the fire.

Tech tips from the shop

We already know that in our profession basic skill save lives, the same rule applies to our units.

I have been meeting with the shop, they have put together a few tips on starting, plugging in the unit etc... They are all basic skills, however we have had some problems with the mastering of these basic skills.

Did you know that not waiting on the glow plugs to heat up before starting the unit can cause damage to the glow plugs as well as the unit? The result is poor or no starting, or poor performance when it does start, not to mention the damage to parts that must be replaced.

Did you know that putting gas in a diesel engine cost an average of $500.00 to fix, assuming you don't ruin the engine?

Employees, please log on to the medic access part of the MEMS web site to view the video.

http://medic.metroems.org

Update on 325

A few pictures on the status of 325 (soon to be 425)

Latisha Johnson

Our own Latisha was honored as one of Arkansas’ Stars of life recently. This is an honor given out by the Arkansas Ambulance Association. She spent the day at the State Capitol interacting with Legislators, and touring the Capitol as well as participating in a luncheon in the Stars honor. Latisha, we are very proud of you !

Cot Inspections

We are in the process of bringing in all the cots in the fleet. We are doing a decontamination as well as inspection/repair as well as replacing any worn cot straps. I am reminding everyone that the chest straps are a requirement on our cots and should be used to restrain your patients.

We are also placing a “Mega Mover” on all cots. Its functions like a draw sheet on steroids. It can hold up to 1500 pounds. It is stored at the foot of the cot under the mattress. We have now placed it on the check off and major sheets.

Auto Vents in

We have received the shipment of the Autovent 3000. This means that all transport vents will be the same. All Paramedics should have received an in service in the last mandatory classes that were held. This is almost exactly like the Autovent that we have had for the last several years. If you need any additional in-service, please see your Supervisor.

A while back we adopted the phonetic alphabet to describe the different positions in the company. Mike=Major, Charlie= Captain, Hotel=Hazmat etc…

I think sometimes the new folks (and some of the old) are having a little trouble getting the concept ;-)

228 catches fire

Not a site you see everyday for sure. The crew of 228 (a newer unit) had just picked up a non-critical PT and were in route to the ER, when they lost power and started seeing smoke. The crew pulled over, evacuated the PT to a safe area. One crewmember went back with a fire extinguisher and was able to get to some of the flame, however the fire appeared to be in the wall of the unit, so he was unable to get to the true source of the fire.
I don’t feel the unit will be a total loss, but it does have heavy wire and smoke damage. We can replace metal, but not people. I am very grateful to the crew for their quick thinking and actions

A little trivia for ya....

This is Hunter Gray. He "invented" the stick man and the way we stripe out trucks. He also designed our first MEMS Alert campaign .

History of the Star of Life

Did you know??



The blue Star of Life was designed by Leo R. Schwartz, Chief of the EMS Branch, NHTSA. It was officially registered February 1, 1977. Just as pharmacists have the mortar and pestle and doctors have the caduceus, EMTs have a symbol. Each of the bars or six “points” of the blue “Star of Life” represents the six-system function of the EMS: detection, reporting, response, on scene care, care in transit, and transfer to definitive care. The staff on the star represents Medicine and Healing.

Slain EMS worker remembered

The EMT volunteer murdered Friday night in Cape Vincent had a promising career in emergency medical work cut short.

Mark B. Davis, 25, was killed by a gunshot from a high powered rifle while responding to a call late Friday evening.

Mr. Davis was involved in multiple emergency agencies, was enrolled in a paramedic program at JCC and worked full time at Watertown's Guilfoyle Ambulance, says the county's Fire and Emergency Services Director Glenn Morrison.

"He had an amazing passion for it," Morrison said.

Davis joined the Cape Vincent Fire Department in late 2006. He was both a volunteer and paid driver for Thousand Islands Rescue. "This was all he knew at this point," Morrison said. "He gave the ultimate sacrifice."

He said Davis' death is being treated as a "line of duty death," meaning funeral and survivor benefits being made available to Davis' family. It also means a formal honor guard funeral, to be held in Cape Vincent.

The designation of a "line of duty death" requires extensive paperwork which has already begun, Morrison said.

Davis moved to Cape Vincent about 2004 from Florida.

He is survived by his mother, a brother, a sister and other relatives.

murder of an EMS volunteer

Cape Vincent man is being held without bail after being arraigned for the
alleged murder of an EMS volunteer who was responding to his residence.

Christopher G. Burke, 25, was arraigned in Cape Vincent Court on 2nd degree
murder and weapons charges late Saturday morning.

State Police investigators say Burke shot and killed Cape Vincent EMS
volunteer Mark Davis at his 114 South Esseltyne residence late Friday
evening.

Davis and other EMS personnel had been summoned to Burke's residence by a
911 call, authorities say. Police would not reveal the nature of the medical
emergency.

While the EMS workers were tending to Burke, he became agitated, went into
another room and retrieved a high powered rifle. While talking to the EMS
workers, Burke had indicated he had weapons in the home, police said.

"And they heard the action of a weapon being activated. At that point the
EMTs attempted to retreat from the residence," said State Police BCI captain
Mark Lincoln.

As the EMTs retreated, Burke allegedly fired two rounds, one of them hitting
Davis and killing him.

Burke then ran from the home and was tackled and held down by another EMT.
Clayton Police officer Robin Pearce took him into custody with help from
Alexandria Bay Police officer Jerry Delosh.

EMTs at the scene attempted life-saving efforts on Davis and continued
during the ambulance transport to Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown,
where he was pronounced dead.

Capt. Lincoln declined to say whether drugs or alcohol may have been a
factor in the fatal incident.

25th Anniversary patch

In Celebration of MEMS 25th Anniversary, we have authorized the wearing of the MEMS 25th Anniversary patch. You are authorized to have this patch on your polo’s, or flying cross shirts in place of our regular patch for 2009.

Since this is an optional patch, and not required so a word of caution, this is only for 2009 so only order what you think you will wear for 09, 2010 we will move back to our traditional patch.

Stations being re-keyed

It’s time to re-key all of the MEMS sub-stations.

We started this week and hope to be concluded by the end of the January.

Now, some things you NEED TO KNOW.

The new keys are going to be color coded: Pink and Blue

Pink station keys will be on each MEMS unit key ring. (The color will insure that they stay on the key ring.)

Blue station keys can be issued to an employee who wants one. Note: employees or their family members ARE NOT authorized to duplicate or have a station key unless it has been issued by MEMS.

MEMS Policy on station keys is: You can be issued a station master key only. You CAN NOT take it upon yourself to have a station master key made. If you have MEMS station key made without MEMS authorization, you will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination. (ouch!!) In other words, don’t duplicate key…… J

You can see Louis or one of the supervisors in Conway to have a station key issued. There is a $50.00 fee/fine for the key, if it is lost and/or not returned. If your issued a key, you assume all responsibility until it is returned. If the key breaks or doesn’t work properly, just bring it in and we’ll swap it w/o worries……..

UAMS is MOVING!

The entire hospital will begin moving all patients, equipment and supplies on Saturday, January 17, 2009.

Beginning Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 0800 the old ER will be closed and the new ER will be accepting patients. The new ER entrance is located off of Shuffield Dr. across from LRVA ER. Follow signs for ambulance parking and entrance.

The new Helipad, located on top of new hospital, will be completely operational beginning Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 0800.

Update on 232 (132)

The new 232 is beginning it transformation. Should be home near the end of February.

MEMS to be mentioned in new book

Lamar Pickens, MEMS patient suffered 3 gun shot wounds to his body after a man asked to use the phone in his business then turned and shot him. Mr. Pickens owns Lamar’s Auto Air and is very happy to be alive today. He attributes his life to Medics Jalana Braqnham and Allen Lawrence, but knows for certain that he was ultimately in God’s hands. Interesting, Mr. Pickens said, “the shooter pointed that gun at my head and I told him In the name of Jesus, don’t kill me…..” Strangely, the gun misfired and he only suffered powder burns to his face and “3-days of sulfur” in his mustache! He did take one bullet to the abdomen, one to his Left femur and one to his Right femur.

His book is called “Psalm 91:1”. He wants to name Jalana and Allen specifically in his book. Also, present on scene was Terry Henson, who he said scooped him up and carried him to the ambulance by herself!!!

I thought this was an interesting note. He is in the process of getting his book published.

MANDATORY Paramedic Training

In January MEMS will carry 2 different brands of cardiac monitors, the LP 12 and Philips MRx. All paramedics are expected to attend one of these MANDATORY classes on the use of the Philips monitor. There are several dates to chose from but each class is limited in size.
Reserve your space early.

Monday, January 5th 1200-1500
Monday, January 5th 1700-2000
Tuesday, January 6th 0800-1100
Tuesday, January 6th 1700-2000
Wednesday, January 7th 0800-1100
Wednesday, January 7th 1200-1500
Thursday, January 8th 0800-1100
Thursday, January 8th 1700-2000
Friday, January 9th 0800-1100
Friday, January 9th 1200-1500
Saturday, January 10th 0800-1100
Saturday, January 10th 1200-1500
Monday, January 12th 1200-1500
Monday, January 12th 1700-2000
Tuesday, January 13th 0800-1100
Tuesday, January 13th, 1700-2000
Wednesday, January 14th 0800-1100
Wednesday, January 14th 1200-1500

We will also cover:

CPAP
Autovent A-3000 ventilators
disposable ventilators
Taser probe removal

Location: Training Building

You must submit registration form to the Training Department no
later than 3 days prior to class.
Space is limited so late submissions are subject to denial.

MEMS turns 25 this year

We are in the process of gathering old newspaper articles, pictures, videos, memorabilia etc...about MEMS for our 25th year celebration. If you have anything that we can scan, copy or have please contact Greg Thompson.

David turner has been working feverishly on writing down our history, already it is a great read. The actual Birthday is May 25th 2009, we hope to put out a multi media project to commemorate this day.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

GT

gthompson@metroems.com

Medics Caught on Tape Allegedly Decided Disabled Man Not Worth Saving

What an incredibly sad and tragic story. May we never allow our humanity and the reason we started doing this work to be lost
GT

Two EMT workers in Britain were arrested after they were heard allegedly discussing whether they should bother to resuscitate a disabled man who had collapsed at home and subsequently died.

Barry Baker, 59, who lived alone, dialed 911 saying that he thought he was having a heart attack. An ambulance was sent to his house while a controller kept him talking on the line.

By the time the ambulance arrived at the house in Patcham, Brighton, Baker had collapsed, but the telephone line was still open and was being recorded.

It is alleged that staff in the control center heard the two medics making disparaging comments about the state of the house.

A police source, who asked not to be named, said that the medics were then heard discussing Baker and saying “words to the effect that he was not worth saving."

The source said that the two men were allegedly first heard commenting on the untidy state of the house and then saying that it was not worth bothering to resuscitate Baker.

They are said to have discussed what to tell ambulance control and decided to say that Baker was already dead when they got there.

“Obviously the crew did not realize that the phone was still connected and, of course, the 999 call was recorded on tape,” the source said.

Sussex Police confirmed that two men had been arrested and that a full-scale investigation into the incident was being carried out by the major crime team.

Baker, who used sticks to help to him walk after undergoing hip replacement surgery, made the emergency call to the South East Coast Ambulance Service headquarters in Lewes in the early hours of Nov. 29.