Ambuglances ::: Region I's Official Newsletter

New EMS Grant Offers More Funding

The second HRSA grant for EMS Terrorism Preparedness has been released. Applications have been mailed to all services and the application deadline is August 1, 2003. This grant has more than 2 million dollars which is twice the amount of the first one for GEMA area 6. Applications may be obtained from the GEMA website or from Region 1 EMS offices in Rome. All applications must be submitted to Robbie Westbrook at Cherokee County GEMA office. Robbie is the chairman of the GEMA Area 6 All Hazards Council.

Smallpox Vaccinations for EMS Put on Hold

Phase two of the smallpox vaccination program in Georgia has been halted as a pre-event program. Phase 2 included public safety personnel such as police, fire and EMS. These agencies will receive the vaccine as a post-event program instead.

AEDs for Pediatric Patients?

The American Heart Association has released an advisory statement from the Pediatric Advanced Life Support Task Force on the recommended use of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) on children. The report states that specially modified AEDs may be used on children from 1 to 8 years of age. The task force recommends 1 minute of CPR before the AED is used. Current AEDS are not capable of use for children because of the inability to deliver low power shocks.

NAEMT Conducting Survey

The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians is conducting a survey on EMS readiness for terrorism. You are invited to take the survey at www.minterpoll.com/599264626.html. This survey is purely voluntary and will measure preparedness of EMS to terrorism nationwide.

Georgia EMS Information System Committee Formed

A Georgia EMS Information System Committee has been formed to evaluate methods of managing EMS data in Georgia. Three EMS reports task forces have announced meetings. The EMS Reports Task force will meet on July 1 in Augusta. The Infrastructure Task Force will meet on July 11 in Forsyth. The Data Collection Task Force will meet on July 15 in Dublin. Region 1 is represented by David Loftin, Linda Avery and Stephen Phillips.

State EMS Office Taking a New Look at RSI

The Office of EMS is looking at the use of RSI after patients are intubated. The EMS Medical Directors Advisory Council are seeking pilot programs. Contact Dr. Pat O'Neal at the Office of EMS for more information.

Chest Compressions for Asthma?

EMS Services in Minnesota have written gentle chest compressions into their asthma protocols for patients in respiratory arrest as a result of asthma. A thirty second delay is necessary for relaxation of musculature. For more information see www.rav.vic.gov.au/proc_man/CPG/CPGA0703.pdf.

Sea Palms Conference Nears

The annual EMS march to the sea will be held from August 19-22 at the Sea Palms resort on St. Simons island. The conference will include a golf tournament and ALS competition. The conference was previously held on Jekyll Island. See you there.

EMS Instructor Course to be Taught

The 2003 EMT and Paramedic Instructor course will be held on October 19-24 in Clarksville at North Georgia Technical College. The instructors were previously screened in Calhoun and Valdosta. The next EMS Instructor screening will be in early 2004.

EMS Educators Conference to be Held in Athens

The annual EMS Educators Conference will again be held at the University of Georgia Continuing Education Center in Athens. The dates will be September 28-30, 2003. The first responder instructor recert course will be held on September 28.

Advanced Airway Form to be Used Until October 31

The Advanced Airway verification form completion will continue until six months ending on October 31, 2003. The form and instructions was sent to all services for use earlier this year. All services should review the forms to make certain that all methods of tube verification were used on each attempt. Hospital personnel who verify placement upon arrival at the hospital must sign the form. The Region 1 office needs to know of any unrecognized misplaced tube, which occurred despite the use of all the methods on the form. The EMS Council Advanced Airway Placement Task Force will evaluate the results at the end of the six-month period.

Dalton College Releases New Course Schedule

Dalton College has announced that an EMT and a Paramedic course will be taught at the school for the 2003-2004 schedule. Both programs will begin on August 20, 2003. The EMT program will be taught in three semesters and the paramedic program will be taught in 4 semesters. Hope Grant funding is available for both programs. For more information contact Dr. Tom Sommer at 706-272-4464 or visit on-line at www.daltonstate.edu.

Hot Weather Causes Concern for Drug Storage

The days of summer are upon us with temperatures regularly above 80 degrees. Temperatures in an ambulance can exceed 115 degrees causing degrading of drugs such as epinephrine and others that have a recommended storage temperature of less than 80 degrees. Be sure to remove the drugs from ambulances not in use to protect the drugs from loss of potency. Also be on the alert for children left in hot cars. There have already been several deaths in the United States from children left alone in cars during the hot temperatures.

Do you have a news story you would like published in Ambuglances? If so, let David Loftin know about it. He can be reached via telephone at (706) 295-6154 or via email at cdloftin@gdph.state.ga.us. Let's inform the region about your news!