Emergency Response


Researchers Develop New Tool to Assess Emergency Department Patients

A new assessment tool, reported recently by the Journal of Hospital Medicine, may help hospitals avoid under- or over-treating patients who are admitted through hospital emergency departments.

ITS is a package of communication technologies to significantly reduce highway crashes and make travel more efficient in all modes.

Intelligent Transportation Systems Panel Getting to Work

A Feb. 24 Web conference is the start for members to advise DOT on the next five years of work on communication technologies to significantly reduce highway crashes and make travel more efficient in all modes.

Multiple Probes of Kleen Energy Blast Begin

Purging natural gas lines incorrectly is a major concern for the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, which has a team on site. Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell has formed two panels of experts to find the cause and determine whether laws, regulations, or building and fire codes should be strengthened.

People Finder System Being Created for Major Disasters

Drawing on the Haiti earthquake experience, the National Library of Medicine estimates more than 50,000 family members might use the system twice during a disaster.

CSB Deploying Investigation Team to Fatal Explosion at Kleen Plant

The explosion blew out walls of the unfinished power plant and set off a fire during a test of natural gas lines.

Snow Shuts Down Nation's Capital

No postal service, no Amtrak service, and thousands are without power during a record-breaking storm for the region.

Free CPR Training App Offered

ZOLL Medical Corp. is offering its popular Pocket CPR for iPhone free during February in recognition of American Heart Month.

Larger Hazmat Shippers to Pay Higher Registration Fee

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will triple the cost for all registrants except small or non-for-profit businesses to $3,000 to ensure it can fund $28.3 million in Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grants.



Waybill Change Would List All TIH Rail Movements

Large freight railroads have submitted random samples of as little as 1 percent of their carloads on waybills sent to the Surface Transportation Board, but the board proposes that all cargoes designated as Toxic Inhalation Hazard be reported.

Fire departments from all 50 states participate in the NVFC National Junior Firefighter Program.

Deadline Nears for NVFC Junior Firefighter Awards

Fire departments have until Feb. 12 to apply for two junior firefighter awards sponsored by Tyco International. Almost 1,100 departments from all 50 states now participate in the National Junior Firefighter Program.

Using Blended Learning for CPR, AED, and First Aid

At some point, most learners will have little experience with traditional approaches to learning that don't involve technology. Finding newer methods is essential.

A tornado siren

Emergency Alert System National Test Planned

The FCC said the test would determine whether the system functions as required should the president issue a national alert.

Predicting Mudslides Could Save Many Lives

A research team has created a prototype warning system that is impressing the emergency management community.

This FDNY photo, taken during an EMS Week 2009 competition on May 21, 2009, shows EMTs treating a simulated victim of cardiac arrest.

Big EMT Class Joins New York's Fire EMS

"Welcome to the premier emergency medical service in the country," Chief of Department Edward Kilduff told 77 new EMTs on Jan. 27. "Be ready, be prepared, be on your toes, be proud."

The rate of 33 percent is basically unchanged since 1994, according to the institute.

Insurers Groups Fighting 'Crash Taxes'

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America and a California affiliate have created Web sites to help motorists battle local taxes assessed when emergency vehicles respond to a crash scene.

Massachusetts Starts Home Oxygen Fire Safety Campaign

The state fire marshal and a task force announced the campaign Jan. 21 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where they said 24 fire deaths and seven firefighter injuries have occurred in such fires since 1997.

NFA Completes Management Curriculum Overhaul

The United States Fire Administration's (USFA) National Fire Academy (NFA) has completed a top-to-bottom review and update of its Management Science curriculum. This comprehensive review includes new course content, addressing emerging issues, and challenges faced by the nation's fire and emergency medical services. Course names now reflect the increasingly diverse role contemporary fire and emergency medical services leaders play in their communities.

Researchers Develop New Bushfire Warning Device

A new bushfire detection and monitoring system is being developed by University of Adelaide researchers using mobile communications technology.

Fish Oil Producer Caught Failing to Report Sulfuric Acid Storage

In addition to paying a $13,166 penalty, the company agreed to provide more than $8,800 for training and equipment to the City of Hoquiam (Wash.) Fire Department to improve the department's capabilities in responding to hazardous materials emergencies.

text mesaging with a cellphone

NTSB: Prohibited Text Messaging Caused Metrolink Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board found the 2008 rail collision in Chatsworth, Calif., was caused by the Metrolink engineer's prohibited use of a wireless device while he was operating the train. The engineer, who died in the crash, did not respond appropriately to a red signal at Control Point Topanga because he was engaged in text messaging at the time.

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