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Thursday, September 17, 2015

EMS Close Calls

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Denver: Paramedic and patient injured in ambulance accident 

Thursday, September 17, 2015   By Kirk Mitchell
The Denver Post


A patient who was riding in an ambulance on the way to a hospital and a paramedic were injured Wednesday morning in an accident, Denver firefighters say.

It's not clear whether the Action Care Ambulance involved in the accident crashed into another vehicle or simply stopped suddenly.

The accident victims were transported in separate ambulances to a hospital, said Melissa Taylor, Denver fire spokesman.

"They're evaluating their conditions right now," Taylor said.

The accident happened around 8 a.m. near 3350 West Quincy Avenue.

Taylor said she does not know how seriously hurt the ambulance patient was at the time of the accident.
     

 

Ambulance damaged in three-vehicle accident - Georgia 

Thursday, September 17, 2015   By Jim West 
jim.west@albanyherald.com

ALBANY — An elderly woman was hospitalized Wednesday following a three-vehicle accident on Philema Road that included a Dougherty County ambulance en route to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.

Lt. M.J. Wood with the Dougherty County Police Department said that around 10:30 a.m. Linda Griffin, 74, was in the right lane on North Jefferson Street and traveling north in a white Toyota Camry when, just past the intersection of Philema Road, she attempted a U-turn in front of Villager Cleaners, 2614 N. Jefferson St.

According to Wood, before Griffin could complete the turn, she collided with a Dougherty County EMS ambulance, driven by Randall Webb, that was traveling south on North Jefferson Street.

The impact of the collision tore the front off the ambulance, Wood said, and sent the Toyota into a head-on collision with a Villager company van, driven by Vickie Perry, that had stopped in the left lane for northbound traffic on North Jefferson Street while Perry waited to turn left into Villager Cleaners.

Griffin sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the collision and was transported to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital for observation and treatment. Hospital officials say she was later released. No other injuries were reported in the incident.



Wood said the ambulance was towed from the scene after a patient was transferred to a second transport vehicle.

According to Wood, Griffin was charged with making an improper U-turn.
     

 

Allina rolls out new design for safer ambulances after fatal crash - Minnesota 

Thursday, September 17, 2015   By: Karen Scullin

 - On a wintry January day in 2014, an Allina ambulance collided with an SUV in Buffalo, Minn.  The driver of the SUV was killed and the ambulance crew critically injured.  As the victims recovered, Allina decided its crew could be better protected, and they quickly got to work figuring out a new ambulance design.

With the cab crushed, it's stunning to know that EMT driver Tim Daly survived, but he was critically injured along with paramedic Brian Nagel who was in the back with the patient.  For Allina ambulance, it was their worst crash ever, but it also helped the company turn a corner.

“I've had many paramedics say ‘I may not like the change but if you provide a safer environment for me to do my work that's a good thing,’” President of Allina EMS Brian Lacroix said.

Improved safety begins with the rig.

“The American way is to make things bigger and bolder and better, this is a departure from that,” Director of Operations at Allina EMS Jeff Czyson said.

There is a prototype ready to hit the road on Oct. 1. It's not perfect, but the design is getting close to the real deal. The most obvious change is that the bench seat is gone.

“By positioning them in a seat that gives them that support allowing them to face forward or rearward or as you see here at a 45-degree angle to be able to render care, a much safer position for them to be in,” Czyson said.

Plus, instead of a lap belt, here's a four point harness for crew. The cabinets are padded, and angled.  And everything possible is within arm's reach, keeping the EMT or paramedic safely in their seat the majority of the ride.

Since the Buffalo crash, there's also a new push to treat before transport, eliminating some procedures previously done on the road, and keeping the crew buckled and seated.
     

 

7 taken to hospital after ambulance, logging truck collide in Bonneau - South Carolina 

Thursday, September 17, 2015   By Suzelle Santos

BERKELEY COUNTY, SC (WCSC) -Seven people were taken to the hospital after an accident involving an ambulance and a logging truck in Bonneau Wednesday morning, officials say. 

Emergency responders were called to the scene on Cane Gully Rd. 6:30 a.m.

A representative with Highway Patrol tells Live 5 News the ambulance was transporting a person to the hospital when it collided with the logging truck.

South Carolina Highway Patrol is reporting the incident as an accident with injuries.

This is a developing story. 
     

 

Spice overdose calls triple for first responders - Indiana 

Thursday, September 17, 2015   TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) – An increase in the number of spice overdoses is keeping the Tippecanoe Emergency Ambulance Service more than busy, the ambulance service has responded to 60 overdoses of spice in a little over two months.

When an ambulance rolls out of the garage, emergency responders are prepared for a wide range of calls. But recently, there’s a good chance they’re off to a spice overdose.

“Since July 1st of this year till current, we’ve had 105 overdose-type calls. Sixty of those, alone, were spice-related,” said Darrell Clase, TEAS director.

Clase said that’s three times more than the same time last year, when there were 20 overdoses of spice. Last week, emergency responders went to six spice overdoses in a single day.

Clase said since the chemical makeup of spice is often unknown, patients react differently. Some are known to even become aggressive.

“With the spice that we’re seeing in our area, we’re seeing some extremely aggressive and extremely violent patients. Out of the 60 calls alone for spice in the last couple of months, we’ve had documentation where EMS has been battered 15 times,” said Clase.

The overall number of calls is also up for the ambulance service. Clase said at this time last year, they had 11,184 calls. So far this year, that number has nearly reached 12,448. He said to help handle the calls, a sixth ambulance is now running Monday through Friday.

“We’re hoping with the addition of that truck, we can lower the number of time we have to reach out to the outlying services. At this point in time, over the next couple of months, we’re just monitoring how that’s going to even out for us,” said Clase.

The new ambulance crew will join five others, one that runs 12 hours and four that run 24 hours a day.

Clase said talks are already in place to possibly add another crew at the beginning of next year.  
     

 

Firefighter/EMS Crash-Poss. LODD 

Count On 2 Video 
Thursday, September 17, 2015   Bad news out of South Carolina today. An ambulance transporting a Firefighter in cardiac arrest was involved in a serious crash in Berkeley County this morning.

The Firefighter reportedly suffered cardiac arrest in his home-following training at his firehouse. Fire and EMS crews were working to save his life-and were transporting him to the hospital.

The ambulance was traveling on Highway 17 in the Macedonia area when it was involved in a crash with a logging tractor trailer. The tractor trailer was apparently turning as the ambulance was trying pass.

Three people were extricated, treated and taken to the hospital, including that Firefighter that was already in the ambulance. The Firefighter did not survive. Our condolences to all those affected. More details to follow. RIP.

     

 

Motorcycle, ambulance crash in Stewart County - Georgia 

Wednesday, September 16, 2015   STEWART COUNTY, Ga. – Georgia State Patrol confirms to News 3 that a crash happened at 2:19 PM Sunday in Stewart County.

State Patrol say the motorcycle driver, 63-year-old Jarius Nichols was traveling south on Georgia Road 1 while an ambulance was traveling on Green Grove Road in Emergency mode (lights and sirens on.)

The ambulance failed to yield right of way and pulled out in front of the motorcycle.

Nichols crashed into the ambulance and struck the rear tire on the right side.

The driver of the ambulance was 45-year-old Christopher Brown from Columbus.

No word on charges as Georgia State Patrol is still investigating the incident.  
     

 

3 Hurt, One Seriously, As Minivan Hits Ambulance, Catches Fire On Route 70 - New Jersey 

Wednesday, September 16, 2015   By 

Three people were injured Tuesday morning when a minivan caused a chain-reaction crash by hitting an ambulance that was stopped at a traffic light on Route 70, and then burst into flames, Manchester police said.

Lee W. Smith, 60, of Brick, was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, complaining of chest pain, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said. Smith’s condition was not known, he said.

Steven Purtell, 20, of Forked River, and Hlif Gabrish, 32, of Waretown, were transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River for complaints of neck and back pain, Malland said.

The three were injured in the crash that happened about 9:10 a.m., Malland said, when the 2004 Toyota minivan, driven west on Route 70 by Smith, hit the rear of a 2006 Ford E Series ambulance owned by Quality Medical Transport of Bayville. The force of the impact pushed the ambulance -- which was not transporting a patient at the time but was occupied by Purtell and Gabrish -- into the back of a 1997 Ford Ranger pickup, Malland said. Both the ambulance and the pickup truck were stopped for a red light at Colonial Drive, he said.

After the impact, the minivan burst into flames, and when police arrived it was burning uncontrollably from the engine compartment while sitting in the westbound lane of Route 70, Malland said.

The responding police officers tried to extinguish the fire but they were not successful. It was ultimately extinguished by the Manchester Township Volunteer Fire Company, he said.

Smith was transported by the Manchester Township Volunteer First Aid Squad.

The driver of the Ford Ranger, Jose Chacon, 37, of Lakewood, was not injured in the crash.

Route 70 was closed for about an hour after the incident while the investigation and clean-up was taking place. This crash is being investigated by Patrolman Douglas Higgins of the Manchester Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Section.
     

 

Study: Medics on long shifts more injury, illness prone 

Wednesday, September 16, 2015   By EMS1 Staff

BOSTON — EMTs and paramedics who work long shifts are 60 percent more likely to suffer injury and illness than those who work eight- to 12-hour shifts, a new study has found.

The findings showed that the risk on an occupational injury or illness increased as shifts lengthened.

The evidence also suggests that not only responders are more likely to suffer injuries when they work extended shifts, but they put patient safety at risk.

To move, treat and transport patients, medics need a clear mental focus and alertness, which is compromised when they work 16- to 24-hour shifts.

Researchers looked at three years of shift schedules, totaling almost 1 million shifts, involving more than 4,000 employees, 950 occupational health records for 14 large EMS agencies in the U.S.

Shifts longer than 12 hours were associated with a 50 percent heightened risk of sustaining an injury compared with shifts of less than 12 hours. This is after taking into account other relevant factors, such as employer type, night or day shift, employment status, and how often the EMS crew had previously worked together.

The risk associated with shifts lasting 16 to 24 hours was more than double that of shifts up to eight hours.

The researchers caution that this is an observational study, so no definitive conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect.

"Despite this, these data show a consistent message," they write. "The findings are early observational evidence of a preventable exposure associated with injury and illness and should be tested further in a randomized design."
     

 

Ambulance hit in Manchester crash - New Jersey 

Wednesday, September 16, 2015   , @AndrewFordNews

MANCHESTER An ambulance was hit from behind by a Toyota minivan heading west on Route 70.

At about 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, the 2006 Ford E Series ambulance was stopped at the intersection of Route 70 and Colonial Drive, according to a release from Manchester Township Police. There wasn't a patient inside.

The crash caused the ambulance to hit the back of a 1997 Ford Ranger Pickup, which was also stopped at the light, the release said.

The minivan was burning when police arrived. They tried to extinguish it, but couldn't. The fire was ultimately extinguished by members of the Manchester Township Volunteer Fire Department.

The driver of the minivan, 60-year-old Brick resident Lee W. Smith, was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for a complaint of chest pain.

The ambulance was owned by Quality Medical Transport, of the Bayville section of Berkeley. The people inside were 20-year-old Steven Purtell of the Forked River section of Lacey and Hlif Gabrish, 32, of Waretown. They were taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for complaints of neck and back pain.

The driver of the pickup – 37-year-old Jose Chacon, of Lakewood – wasn't injured.

Route 70 was closed for about one hour after the incident while authorities investigated and cleaned up.

This crash is being investigated by Patrolman Douglas Higgins of the Manchester Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Section.
     

 

THE INVESTIGATORS UNCOVER ANOTHER DEADLY CRASH INVOLVING SAME AMBULANCE COMPANY - New York 

Wednesday, September 16, 2015   By 



SPRING VALLEY (WABC) --
In an earlier investigation, Eyewitness News reported on two separate accidents involving drivers who fell asleep behind the wheel of a SeniorCare Ambulance, causing the death of one patient and serious injury to a pedestrian. Now, we've uncovered a third accident involving the huge Bronx-based company and new video showing the EMT driver dozing off, with deadly results.

One early morning in 2010, a SeniorCare Ambulance driver was transporting Perla Pietrafesa to a Long Island nursing home, with her husband Richard also riding in the back of the ambulance. It was their last time together.

New DashCam video obtained by the Eyewitness News Investigators shows the SeniorCare driver falling asleep behind the wheel before slamming into a tree. The impact killed Richard.

"All they said, 'Your father is dead, your father is dead, the ambulance just crashed,'" the victim's daughter, Linda Mongiardo, said.

The Department of Motor Vehicles investigation concluded that the driver had fallen asleep because she had been awake more than 20 hours after agreeing to work back-to-back shifts.

But as our investigation uncovered, SeniorCare EMT drivers continued to fall asleep with devastating results.

In 2012, a SeniorCare driver appeared to nod off, striking several parked cars and a woman who was nearly killed.

"She had reconstructive surgery," attorney Walter Benson said. "She has difficulty walking, in constant pain."

Then, earlier this year, a SeniorCare Ambulance ran off the road and struck a utility pole, killing Janet Hickey, a patient in the back of the ambulance. Sources tell Eyewitness News that the teenage ambulance driver fell asleep behind the wheel.

SeniorCare insists the driver was fully qualified, met the company's rest rules and had cleared all drug tests after the accident.

After repeated requests to speak to the head of SeniorCare, we decided a few days ago to confront CEO Michael Vatch in an attempt to get some answers. But he refused to comment.

Jim Hoffer: "Your ambulance drivers with SeniorCare, why are they falling asleep behind the wheel?"
Vatch: "I have no comment for you right now."
Hoffer: "Why not talk to us now?"
Vatch: "I'll talk to you at a different time."
Hoffer: "We've tried to reach you several times, we've even come to the office, you've never returned our calls."
Vatch: "I'll comment to you at a different time."
Hoffer: "Why are your drivers so fatigued?"
Vatch: "I'll talk to you at a different time."

In a statement, Vatch said said all their EMT drivers "recieve classroom training" and take an "on-road supervised driver's test," plus "annual driver re-education courses," adding that their "safety regulations" "exceed state requirements." But the families of those killed and injured in SeniorCare accidents say it's not enough.

"When you are taken by ambulance, the last thing that you expect is this ambulance to cause death," said Karen Gioffre, one of the victim's daughter.

Our investigation has found that there are few state requirements to drive an ambulance except that drivers are legally licensed and that the ambulance company "has a training program authorized by the service." In other words, the ambulance company can determine the type of training and how much is needed.

Here is the full statement from SeniorCare:

SeniorCare Emergency Medical Services, a company providing ambulance service transporting patients to New York metropolitan area hospitals and nursing homes, thoroughly reviewed its safety regulations and will continue to utilize procedures that exceed state requirements.

"In our business, one accident is too many and we immediately expressed our heartfelt sorrow to the family of Janet Hickey," said SeniorCare EMS CEO Michael S. Vatch. "Since 2012 we conducted more than 500,000 transports without incident. The accident involving our ambulance was one of less than 50 accidents with injuries over the past three years--almost all of which did not require a hospital stay during the same time period.

"Nonetheless, we continue to do all we can to ensure that something like this doesn't happen again."

With 150 ambulances and a staff of 620, SeniorCare handles more than 150,000 transports per year, travelling about 3.75 million miles. Working in a niche market, the bulk of its work involves moving patients to and from the region's leading hospitals and nursing homes.

The driver in the accident was above legal age and was driving six hours into his day shift after he had been off work since the previous afternoon. SeniorCare employees cannot punch in for work without meeting rest rules-which were in effect at the time of the accident. The driver in this case had finished work at 5pm the previous day. In addition, he cleared all drug and medical tests after the accident. The driver, an employee for two weeks, had passed previous supervised driving tests prior to transporting patients.

more ]
     

 

Burton Firefighter falls ill on job - South Carolina 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015   By Anna Kuskin

BURTON, SC (WTOC) -The Burton Fire District is without one of its brothers on Monday after a firefighter fell seriously ill during a call on Sunday afternoon.

It all started around noon on Sunday when firefighters responded to a call about a motor vehicle accident in the Pinewood district of Beaufort. Shortly after they arrived at the scene, however, it was one of their own men who was in the most critical condition of all.

“You know, when you start treating somebody that is within a group of people that you know, it always kicks up the anxiety level a little bit," said Danny Tinnel, paramedic senior crew chief of the Beaufort County EMS.

Stuart Hardy, 31, is a Marine Corps veteran and was one of the firefighters that was called to the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Sunday But within moments of arriving at the scene, something went terribly wrong.

"While on scene, he was getting ready to assist an injured occupant when he suffered a serious medical emergency," said Burton Fire District spokesman Daniel Byrne.

Byrne said the cause and details of Hardy's condition are still unknown, but it's not the first time a firefighter has fallen ill on the job.

"A handful of times, I've probably seen something like this occur,” said Tinnel. “Where you have someone injured or some medical condition gives them a problem while they're on a scene like this."

Firefighters go under a lot of stress when they respond to these emergencies. Luckily,  Byrne said those involved in the motor vehicle accident escaped with minor injuries. Instead, Hardy received live-saving assistance on the spot.

"We're crediting the members of the Burton Fire District who were on scene, as well as the Beaufort County EMS who rendered aide to him, to saving his life," said Byrne.

The firefighter was then taken to Beaufort Memorial and eventually transported by air to MUSC in Charleston.

Hardy remains in critical, but stable condition, with his family by his side.

Burton Fire Chief Harry Roundtree said several firefighters from departments throughout South Carolina were actually at MUSC, waiting for Hardy to arrive when they learned of the news.

He said that shows the strength of the bond between firefighters, even if they're complete strangers.
     

 

Portsmouth Ambulance involved in crash, two injured - Ohio 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015   By Jeremiah Shaver Times-Journal Writer

JACKSON— A single vehicle crash, involving an ambulance, sent two emergency personnel to the hospital with minor injures.

At approximately 9:49 a.m. on Sunday, September 13, emergency responders were dispatched to a crash, with entrapment, on Mayhew Road between Evanswood and Peach Drives in Jackson.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol report, a Portsmouth Ambulance being driven by 31-year-old Joshua Caudill, of Ceredo, WV was traveling westbound on Mayhew Road (Township Road 244), when he went off the right side of the roadway. The vehicle then struck and bounced-off a locust tree, before striking another locust tree and coming to rest against that tree.

Jackson Police Department, Jackson County EMS, Jackson Fire Department, Madison-Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department and Portsmouth EMS, all responded to the scene.

The report also stated that Caudill was able to get out of the vehicle, but his passenger, 26-year-old Brad Duhl of Wellston, was trapped in the wreckage. Firefighters from the Jackson Fire Department and Madison-Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department had to use the "Jaws of Life" on the ambulance to free Duhl.

Caudill was transported by Portsmouth EMS to Jackson's Holzer Medical Center, with minor injures. Duhl was transported by Jackson County EMS to Jackson's Holzer Medical Center, where he was transported by Medflight to Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, WV for his injures. Both Caudill and Duhl were wearing their seat-belts at the time of the crash.





Caudill told law enforcement that he may have fell asleep at the wheel, but he wasn't sure. At the time of the crash, the Portsmouth EMS was not transporting any patients. Caudill was cited with failure to control.  
     

 

Crash involving ambulance slowing traffic - Maryland 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015   Update Sept.14,5 p.m. While responding to a reported Motor Vehicle Accident, an Ambulance from Lexington Park Rescue Squad was involved a accident as well. No injuries were reported and after a search of the area, the original accident was not located.

Shortly after 4:30 p.m. police and other responders were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on Three Notch Road south of Hermanville Road in St. Mary's County. One of the vehicles involved is an ambulance.

No injuries are reported. Crews are still at the scene and motorists in the area should use caution and expect delays for the next few minutes.  
     

 

Man killed after crashing into ambulance on I-75 - Tennessee 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015   A Morristown man died after crashing into an ambulance on an emergency call.

Christopher D. Webb, 40, died in the two-vehicle accident on I-75 North near mile marker 56 in McMinn County early Monday morning.

According to the fatal accident report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the ambulance had responded to an earlier crash, and was stopped in the left lane with the lights activated. The crew was helping the victims of the other accident and were not in the ambulance.

The trooper said Webb crashed into the rear of the ambulance at full speed. He was killed at the scene.

No one else was hurt.  
     

 
 
 

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