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.