New Hampshire Association of EMTs

NOTICE OF QUARTERLY MEETING

2008-07-12T23:15:00.001-04:00

Hey there! A HUGE welcome to all our new members. We are glad to have you aboard.

We extend out best wishes to Bill Wood for a speedy recovery. Bill, you are in our thoughts and we look forward to seeing you up and around again!

This message is also is to notify each of you of our Quarterly Meeting.
WHERE? Safety and Health Council Bldg on Manchester St, in Concord.
DATE? Friday, August 1st.
TIME? 1830 (that's 6:30 PM for yews civilyuns )
DURATION? 2-3 hours

This meeting is to conduct business before the Association requiring membership vote, bring you all up to speed on what's been happening around the state, and to convene a Nominating Committee for elections in September, at the Annual Meeting (Saturday, September 20th).

ALL current members are eligible to run, with the exception of any full-time employees of the FST&EMSA (per the By-Laws). Offices up for re-election are President and Treasurer. We also need to fill some much needed Committees and their Chairs. Finally, we will be looking for
people interested in taking on the Secretary's position when Kat retires in March, 2009. (This will be an appointed "fill" until Sept., 2010.)

We are planning some sort of food, so bring yourself and someone else to join! Please send an RSVP to katnhaemt@aol.com as soon as you can so we have an accurate head count, ok?

Thanks!

Kat (On behalf of the Exec Board)

PS - Those of you who are waiting for membership materials? Please accept my apologies for the delay. Been kinda swamped for a couple of months dealing with my Mom's passing, but you should have them within the week. -
K

NHAEMT Summer Meeting

2008-07-12T23:05:00.000-04:00

When: Friday, August 1st at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Safety and Health Council, 163 Manchester Street, Concord

RSVP to Jennifer Frenette, via email or call 603-631-0464

Dinner is Provided -- Bring a Friend!

National EMS Memorial Bike Ride

2008-06-01T00:11:00.005-04:00

Thank you for support of the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride. In our time of need, NH came through when the request for help went out. My passion for this event exceeds words - over 125 riders via 3 different routes, riding in excess of 1200 miles total to raise awareness of EMS LODD and Safety is outstanding. Go to muddyangels.org to learn more about the ride.

Pictured Are: Greg Castillo, Jennifer Frenette, Doug Martin, Mike Kennard

NHAEMT Day with the Fisher Cats

2008-06-01T00:07:00.001-04:00

We appreciate everyone's recent support of the our first Annual NHAEMT Fisher Cat Baseball Outing (picture below). We had 123 fabulous fans, and Jen even threw out a first pitch!

Help Raise Awareness for EMS!

2008-05-14T22:08:00.002-04:00

Part of the mission of the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride is that we want to raise awareness
regarding EMS, LODD, and work related safety/injuries in EMS. We will have
events in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Annapolis, and Washington DC.
In DC, we have teamed up with Advocates for EMS to create a special event.
This required Rep. Oberstar to actually pass a bill to allow us to be on the
grounds of the US Capitol!!

Please help us!
Talk to your Members of Congress DC Office about the bike ride special event
at the US Capitol.

Letters of invitation have been delivered to the members of congress from
the states that each rider is coming from. It works best if you can follow
up directly, and if the Member cannot attend ask if a staffer would be
willing to.

Thanks!

This is the letter of invitation they received:

On behalf of The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride (NEMSMBR) and Advocates for
EMS, we would like to invite you to participate in an event on Tuesday, May
20, 2008 in Upper Senate Park from 12:00-1:00 p.m. honoring emergency
medical services providers who have become injured or who have died in the
line of duty. Advocates for EMS is a not-for-profit organization whose
purpose is to educate elected and appointed officials as well as the public
at-large on important issues affecting the EMS community. The NEMSMBR is a
non-profit organization that started as a grassroots effort in Boston, MA in
2002 as a "ride to remember" to the Annual National EMS Memorial Service in
Roanoke, VA. This year the event includes riders from 24 states and
Ireland.

From May 17 - May 23, 2008, 110 participants will bike from New York City or
Lexington, KY to Roanoke, VA, the location of the National EMS Memorial. The
riders' stop in Washington on the 20th is primarily focused on raising
public awareness about those who have lost their life or suffered a
debilitating injury in the line of duty, as well as to voice their support
for H.R. 3822, which broadens the Public Safety Officer Benefit Program
death benefits to nongovernmental and volunteer firefighters, ground and air
ambulance crew members, and first responders. We would be honored if you or
a member of your staff would attend the event.

To RSVP or for additional information please contact Lisa Meyer at
Cornerstone Government Affairs at (202)448-9522 or lmeyer@cgagroup.com.

We hope you will be able to join us!

David Page MS, NREMT-P
Vice President
National EMS Memorial Bike Ride
Cell: 651-341-0111
E-mail: dpage@ehs.net
Web: www.muddyangels.org

Nominations for EMT Award

2008-05-05T22:00:00.000-04:00

Good Morning,

Attached is a nomination letter and application for the NH Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Foundation. The Foundation was formed last year to provide Police and Fire Personnel and their families with assistance should they become disabled or die in the line of duty. Most recently I was appointed to their Board of Directors to represent the NH Association of Fire Chiefs. I am honored to sit on this foundation and be able to have another avenue to recognize the hard work our Firefighters and EMTs provide the public every day. However I need your help. The Foundation will hold its first awards dinner on October 1, 2008. They are looking for award recipients in the Firefighter and EMT field. Please take the time to nominate a Firefighter and EMT who has served the fire service and emergency medical services well. It does not have to be a specific heroic act, but someone who stands out amongst their peers. An award banquet will be held on October 1, 2008.

Please act quickly…The deadline for application submission is May 20^th. Please email me if you do nominate someone so I know we (NH Fire Service) are participating in this awards program. Please call or email me with any questions.

Chief Murray

NAEMT Update

2008-04-15T22:02:00.003-04:00

Dear Affiliates:

During the Affiliate Advisory Council conference call on March 26th, we mentioned that the NAEMT Board had approved a new incentive program for all affiliated organizations. The details of the program are provided below for your reference:

Incentives for Affiliated Associations:

Affiliated associations that recruit new members during the calendar year ending December 31 will receive:

$500 for recruiting 50 new members

$750 for recruiting 75 new members

$1000 for recruiting 100 new members

The membership application will include space for the applicant to report the name of the association with which they are affiliated.

Affiliated associations receiving incentive rewards will be recognized at the NAEMT Annual Meeting and in the NAEMT Newsletter.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this program.

We also hope you will consider submitting a nomination for one or more of the 2008 NAEMT national awards recognizing outstanding achievements and contributions in EMS. Below is a list of these awards:

Robert E. Motley EMT of the Year
Purpose: to recognize an EMT who demonstrates excellence in the performance of Emergency Medical Services, with their primary role being that of patient care outside the hospital.

Asmund S. Laerdal Paramedic of the Year
Purpose: to recognize a Paramedic who demonstrates excellence in the performance of Emergency Medical Services, with their primary role being that of patient care outside the hospital.

Leo R. Schwartz Volunteer EMS Service of the Year
Purpose: to recognize a volunteer service that demonstrates excellence in EMS system design and provision of excellent patient care while fostering a positive and safe work environment for EMS providers.

Jeffery Harris Paid EMS Service of the Year
Purpose: to recognize a paid service that demonstrates excellence in EMS system design and provision of excellent patient care while fostering a positive and safe work environment for EMS providers.

William Klingensmith EMS Administrator of the Year:
Purpose: to recognize a person in mid or upper level management of an EMS service who provides a positive and supportive environment for EMS providers to work, promoting safety, professionalism and excellence in patient care.

Mary Ann Talley EMS Educator of the Year:
Purpose: to recognize an educator who provides quality and relevant education that supports and enhances the role of EMS providers; and one who serves as a positive role model for EMS providers.

Richard Ferneau EMS Medical Director of the Year:
Purpose: to recognize an EMS Medical Director who provides local leadership related to positive patient outcomes; and fosters an environment to support and respect EMS providers.

Our online application process makes it simple to submit a nomination. Here is a link to the awards page on our website:

http://www.naemt.org/awardsAndScholarships/ Please contact NAEMT’s Headquarters Office with any questions about submitting an application by email at: awards@naemt.org. Deadline for submission of applications is June 30, 2008.

Lisa Lindsay, CAE
Business Manager
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
Phone: 800-346-2368
www.naemt.org

SB 525: We Need Your Support!

2008-04-03T21:10:00.001-04:00

We received word yesterday afternoon that SB 525 (New Title) establishing the first Saturday in May as Emergency Medical Services Provider Recognition Day has been scheduled for a public hearing the House. The hearing has been scheduled for April 9, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. in room 303 of the Legislative Office Building. It would be extremely helpful if you were able to attend the hearing and speak to the bill. If there is anyone else that you believe could be helpful to have at the hearing the more support we can have in the room the better.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if this office can be of assistance.

Thank you.

Patrick Murphy
NH Senate Legislative Aide
Aide to Senate Energy, Environment & Economic Development Committee
Assistant to Senators Jackie Cilley and Deb Reynolds
State House Room 107
Telephone: 271-2609

Senate Bill 316. Good News!

2008-03-20T21:22:00.000-04:00

Senate Bill 316 has passed the NH Senate and is currently scheduled for a hearing with the House ED&A Committee on Wednesday March 26th at 0945. It will take place in room 306 of the Legislative Office Building. Again, we need as many people in uniform as possible to attend in a show of support.

In case you've forgotten, Senate Bill 316 amends the Line of Duty Death Benefit to include EMS personnel who are not firefighters.

NHAEMT Day at the Fisher Cats/New Britain Rock Cats Game

2008-03-04T22:06:00.002-05:00

Saturday, May 10, 2008 will be NHAEMT Day at the Fisher Cats game vs. the New Britain Rock Cats (AA Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins). Game Time is 1:05 p.m.

Proceeds to Benefit the NHAEMT"s David F. Dow Memorial EMS Scholarship Fund.

It is also Youth T-Shirt Giveaway! FREE MVP Healthcare Fungo t-shirts to the first 1,000 kids through the gates!

If you are interested in supporting this great cause, you must purchase your tickets through NHAEMT and not the Box Office or through Ticketmaster. Click HERE for the order form.

Mail payment with order form (by May 1, 2008) to:
Kat Rickey/Sec. NHAEMT
PO Box 651
Epsom, NH 03234
For more information contact Kat Rickey; (603) 435-8208

EMS.GOV Goes Live!

2008-02-20T18:36:00.000-05:00

From Drew Dawson, Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services in NHTSA

The Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) at NHTSA is pleased to announce the launch of EMS.gov. This innovative Web site, developed to meet the varied needs of the EMS community, contains not only the latest news from OEMS – but also functions as a portal to other EMS Web sites and resources. Here you’ll find background and updates on groundbreaking Federal initiatives and programs, including Emergency Medical Services for Children, the National EMS Information System, the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS , Enhanced 9-1-1 and Next Generation 9-1-1, the National EMS Advisory Council, and more.

Clearly our Nation’s EMS Community is too diverse for a single Web site to meet all its informational needs. But by providing links and contact information for other trusted resources, EMS.gov strives to provide EMS professionals and stakeholders with the closest thing to a “one-stop shop” for Federal EMS Information available online today.

Tell Us What You Think

Your feedback will help us refine EMS.gov content better meet your needs now and in the future. Visit www.EMS.gov. Then Email us at nhtsa.ems@dot.gov

Drew Dawson, Director
Office of Emergency Medical Services
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE (NTI-140)
W44-314
Washington, D.C. 20590
Phone: 202 366-9966
FAX: 202 366-7721

DWI Victim Fatality Sign bill

2008-02-20T18:35:00.001-05:00

Hello all,

I just came from the Executive Session of the Public Works and Highways Committee, which voted 15 - 1 OUGHT TO PASS on the DWI Victim Fatality Sign bill.

You each contributed valuable and persuasive testimony at the public hearing, and have my deep gratitude for joining me in the effort to pass this awareness and education effort. I am honored to partner with you to combat impaired driving on NH highways.

I will keep you informed as to when HB 1590 will be heard on the House floor.

Sincere thanks,

Rep. Eileen Ehlers
Hooksett

Great News!

2008-01-30T21:50:00.001-05:00

This just passed the Rural Health Policy Congress of the National Rural Health Association and is valid for SEVEN years. NRHA can now endorse HR 3822.

"The National Rural Health Association joins with the Association of Air Medical Services, the International Association of Flight Paramedics, the National Association of EMTs, the American Ambulance Association and a host of state and regional EMS organizations to support extension the Public Safety Officer Benefit to include all of the police, fire and EMS personnel who lose their lives providing emergency medical duties as a public service."

URGENT! LODD Bill Hearing 1/16/08

2008-01-11T23:48:00.000-05:00

Last year NH created a law that will provide a cash payment of $100,000 to the families of any NH law enforcement officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty. An effort was made at that time to include EMS into that law, but did not pass. A bill to do that was introduced in the NH Senate last week.

Senator Peter Burling submitted Senate Bill 316, co-sponsored by Senator Lou D’Allesandro and Representative David Welch. It is very, very important for EMS providers to actively advocate for this bill.

A coalition of three organizations has gotten together to try to coordinate the efforts of the NH EMS community to support this legislation. But what is most important is to have a lot of EMS providers supporting the bill by attending the hearings in uniform and writing to their legislators. The coalition has put together materials to assist individual providers in this process. Please contact one or more of the individuals listed below to ask what you can do to help. Don’t worry if you’re not a member of that organization, this effort is for all NH EMT’s and Paramedics.

Senate Bill 316 was introduced into the Senate last week and is already scheduled to be heard in Committee. The hearing is very soon – NEXT WEEK – so please make plans now to attend. The hearing is at the NH State House, Room 103, on Wednesday January 16, 2008 at 1:30 pm.

At the Senate hearing of the bill last year the room was standing room only, filled with firefighters and law enforcement officers. That’s what needs to happen this year with EMS providers. Join your colleagues to advocate for this very important piece of legislation, and support parity between police, fire and EMS .

For further information please contact one of the following members of the coalition:

NH Association of EMT’s – Jennifer Frenette – usd2bfn@yahoo.com

NH Ambulance Association – Patrick Twoomey – Patrick.accessems@comcast.net

NH Paramedic Association – David Hogan – dhoganjr@yahoo.com

PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH AS MANY NH EMS PROVIDERS AS YOU CAN…HELP SPREAD THE WORD!!!!

ATTENTION EMS PERSONNEL EXPIRING IN 2008

2007-12-12T19:31:00.000-05:00

The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) will only accept ORIGINAL State of New Hampshire Certificate of Completion as documentation and proof that you have completed your refresher requirements in accordance with New Hampshire Laws & Administrative Rules.

For First Responders, the Certificate of Completion is issued by the State of New Hampshire, Department of Safety, Division of Fire Standards and Training & Emergency Medical Services, Bureau of EMS upon successful completion of the NH First Responder practical exam.

For EMT-Basics and EMT-Intermediates, the Certificate of Completion is issued by the State of New Hampshire, Department of Safety, Division of Fire Standards and Training & Emergency Medical Services, Bureau of EMS upon successful completion of the NH EMT-Basic practical exam.*

For EMT-Paramedics, the Certificate of Completion is issued by the State of New Hampshire, Department of Safety, Division of Fire Standards and Training & Emergency Medical Services, Bureau of EMS upon successful completion of a state approved EMT-Paramedic refresher.* / **

IMPORTANT: If you have previously taken a refresher program and have a Certificate of Completion issued prior to October 1, 2007 you will need an updated version to submit with re-registration paperwork this coming year. Please contact an Education Specialist at the Bureau of EMS to have your certificate replaced. There are new features to the certificate and submission of an older certificate will result in your re-registration materials being returned by the NREMT.

*For those personnel using the NREMT Exam-in-Lieu to meet their refresher requirements, please see the document: Information Regarding NREMT Exam-In- Lieu.

** Any EMT-Paramedic using the NREMT recertification by continuing education process must contact the Bureau of EMS to obtain a certificate of completion.

NIMS Training Compliance Update

2007-12-11T19:50:00.000-05:00

NIMS training compliance is an ongoing process for both the State as a whole and local jurisdictions and agencies. While many localities are in full compliance, there are still many who are not. Achieving compliance for your jurisdiction and/or agency is fairly simple:

ALL responders must complete these courses:

IS-700 Introduction to NIMS
IS-100 Introduction to ICS (or the equivalent)
IS-200 Basic ICS (or the equivalent)
IS-800 Introduction to the National Response Plan
This training should be completed by September 2007.

FAQ's:

I’ve already taken the Fire Academy’s 16 hour ICS course. Do I need to take 100 and 200 as well?

No.The ICS training requirement can be met by having completed the NFA’s 16-hour ICS program that has been offered by the NH Fire Academy for quite some time. It is not necessary to take IS-100 and/or IS-200 if you have already taken the NFA ICS course.

How can I get the courses that I need?

All of the listed courses can be taken online or in a classroom. The classroom method is recommended and can be scheduled by contacting your Field Captain or the NH Fire Academy. The Field Captain for the Northern Region is Harry McGovern at 419-9444 and the Field Captain for the Southern Region is Meredith Lund at 419-9500.

What if I have more questions?

If you have any questions regarding NIMS compliance, please contact Captain Bob Pragoff at the NH Fire Academy at 271-2661 X106 or rpragoff@safety.state.nh.us

Information Regarding NREMT Exam-in-Lieu

2007-12-11T19:41:00.000-05:00

New Hampshire recognizes registration through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) as proof of cognitive, entry level, competency. Licensure eligibility in NH is based on proof of current NREMT registration / certification. In 2007 the NREMT Board of Directors approved the use of their Computer Based Test (CBT) in lieu of the traditional refresher process. NH EMS Coordinating Board reviewed this policy and voted to accept the exam-in-lieu of the required refresher course only. See below for guidance on how to complete this process in NH.

EMT-Basic

Register to take the CBT Exam (www.nremt.org).
Complete the EMT-Basic CBT Exam at the site you choose.
Upon successful completion of the CBT exam you will receive notification and re-registration documents from the NREMT.**
Complete the required NREMT documentation
Present the documentation and proof of 48 hours of continuing education to the geographically appropriate Education Specialist (Berlin, Epping, Wilton) who will verify your continuing education (within 10 business days of receipt).
Register and take the NH State EMT-Basic practical exam.
Upon successful completion of the practical exam you will receive a “Certificate of Completion.”
Submit the NREMT paperwork and the original State ”Certificate of Completion” to the NREMT.

EMT-Intermediate

Register to take the CBT Exam (www.nremt.org).
Complete the EMT-Intermediate (1985) CBT Exam at the site you choose.
Upon successful completion of the CBT exam you will receive notification and re-registration documents from the NREMT.**
Complete the required NREMT documentation
Present the documentation and proof of 48 hours of continuing education (36 BLS, 12 ALS) to the geographically appropriate Education Specialist (Berlin, Epping, Wilton) who will verify your continuing education (within 10 business days of receipt).
Register and take the NH State EMT-Basic practical exam.
Upon successful completion of the practical exam you will receive a “Certificate of Completion.”
Submit the NREMT paperwork and the original State ”Certificate of Completion” to the NREMT.

EMT-Paramedic

Register to take the CBT Exam (www.nremt.org).
Complete the EMT-Paramedic CBT Exam at the site you choose.
Upon successful completion of the CBT exam you will receive notification and re-registration documents from the NREMT.**
Complete the required NREMT documentation
Present the documentation and proof of 24 hours of continuing education to the geographically appropriate Education Specialist (Berlin, Epping, Wilton) who will verify your continuing education (within 10 business days of receipt).
Upon verification of continuing education you will receive a “Certificate of Completion.”
Submit the NREMT paperwork and the original State ”Certificate of Completion” to the NREMT.

** Failure of the Exam will require the candidate to complete the refresher process by traditional methods.**

NH Paramedic Refresher Process – Clarification

2007-12-11T19:40:00.000-05:00

Recently it has come to our attention that there may be some confusion about the difference between continuing education and modular refresher programs for Paramedics.

New Hampshire Administrative Rule Saf-C 5913.04, which went into effect in 2002, states that paramedics are required to complete a State authorized refresher training program that meets or exceeds US DOT curriculum (2001). The Administrative Rule does not recognize the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) refresher by continuing education process.

It is understood that there are some paramedics who have chosen to use this process for refreshing in the past. Any Paramedic in NH who has a NREMT expiration date of 3/31/2008 and is in the process of re-registering via the National Registry policy of continuing education, is able to continue on your course. However, you will need to contact the Bureau of EMS, Education Coordinator Eric Perry at (603) 271-2661 for further guidance.

Effective April 1, 2008 refreshing via the NREMT continuing education process will not be allowed. Many instructors choose to teach their refresher in a modular fashion, this practice is authorized by the Bureau of EMS. An example of this would be an agency that holds monthly training that cover a part of the EMT-P RTP objectives each time. Over several months all of the objectives of the curriculum are met. When a paramedic completes all of the objectives and time requirements of the RTP curriculum, they have completed the refresher training program and the State has been notified (standard I/C process) a Certificate of Completion will be issued by the Bureau. An instructor can request authorization of this type of schedule in the same manner he/she would for a traditional refresher. Paramedics also have the option to take a more traditional scheduled refresher where 48 hours of classroom time is completed in a more condensed time frame rather than spread out of many months. Instructors have the flexibility to design their programs however they desire so long that they meet all the objectives and time requirements, and have their program authorized by the State of New Hampshire, Bureau of EMS.

In addition to the refresher methods above, NH recently approved the NREMT Exam-in-Lieu process with some NH specific additions. That process was released on September 5, 2007 and is available on the Bureau of EMS website. Regardless of the methodology in which paramedics choose to take their refresher, they still have the additional requirement of 24 hours of continuing education in accordance with NREMT policy.

Job Opportunity: UAE

2007-11-13T11:10:00.000-05:00

Interested in a director level EMS position in Dubai?

They are currently looking for someone who would be involved with directing the re-organization and operation of a regional and possibly national EMS system. This, of course, requires living in Dubai for the term of the contract.

Anyone interested should contact:

Will Chapleau EMT-P, RN, TNS
Manager, ATLS Program
American College of Surgeons
633 N. St. Claire St.
Chicago, Illinois 60611-3211
USA
312-202-5355
fax 312-202-5005
e-mail wchapleau@facs.org

Call To Action!

2007-11-05T19:20:00.000-05:00

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND ASK THEM TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2008 LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION CONFERENCE REPORT, WHICH INCLUDES FUNDING INCREASES FOR NACDD PRIORITIES!

As you may know, the House and Senate both passed their respective Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bills. Last week, they met to work out the differences between the two bills, and agreed on a conference report that includes increases for programs that are important to Advocates for EMS members:

Traumatic Brain Injury

Rural & Community AEDs

Trauma Systems Planning and Development Act

Poison Control

Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the conference report tomorrow, and the Senate will vote on the report later this week. A second action alert will go out when it is time to contact your Senator. In the meantime, be sure to contact your Representative today or tomorrow.

Contacting a Congressional Office

The US Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121, can connect you with your Representative. It is best to call the Washington Office, not the local district office. If you don't know who your Representative is, you can go online to http://www.house.gov.

Ask to speak with the staff person who handles the Health and Human Services Appropriations for the office. The purpose is to ask them to tell their boss to vote for the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations report. If you can't reach the staffer, leave a message.

When you reach the staffer, very briefly identify your professional affiliation and reason for supporting the legislation.

Talking Points

I am contacting you to ask that the Congressman/woman vote in favor of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations conference report for FY 2008.

The bill includes increases that are vital to programs in our state, including the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant, Traumatic Brain Injury, Rural & Community AEDs, Trauma Systems Planning and Development and Poison Control. Briefly tell them what this funding means to you and your state.

Why your call is critical

The more Members of Congress that hear from their constituents about the importance of this funding the more likely they will be to vote for the bill. It is critical to have as many Members vote in favor of the bill as possible because President Bush has already threatened to veto any spending bills over his request. If the President vetoes this bill and Congress cannot overturn the veto, funding increases for these programs will be uncertain.

NHAEMT Announces Combination Membership

2007-11-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

Just In:

The NHAEMT leadership has adopted a combination NHAEMT/NAEMT membership for $45. This means members will enjoy a 25% discount when both groups are joined simultaneously.

Stay tuned, the new membership form will be online shortly.

We Have Met the Enemy & He Is Us! -- Another Perspective

2007-11-01T08:47:00.000-04:00

Bryan E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP
From JEMS.com

There was a cartoon series entitled Pogo that was popular during the Vietnam War. Pogo was a possum that lived in a Georgia swamp. Life in the swamp satirically represented society. One of the most popular quotations that came from the widely read cartoon was the phrase “We have met the enemy and he is us.” The phrase subsequently became the mantra for Earth Day and reflected the fact that pollution and similar environmental issues are largely the responsibility of humankind. Unfortunately, the same phrase can be easily applied to EMS.

Lately, I have noticed three issues that illustrate how we are our own worst enemy. These three issues affect everybody who is or has been a part of the EMS community in the United States. Now, I don’t think anybody is consciously trying to hurt the profession, I believe it is occurring because of generalized apathy or ignorance. In addition, sometimes we place our own interests in front of those of the profession.

First, any profession needs a unified voice to represent the interests of the profession in society as a whole. The American Medical Association (AMA) represents physicians in general while the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) specifically represents the interests of emergency physicians. The strength of a professional organization, such as the AMA or ACEP, lies in the membership. The more members, the more influential the organization.

The organization for EMS is the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT). This organization was founded in 1975, and I was a charter member. While NAEMT has had its ups and downs, it still remains the only unified voice for EMS in the U.S. Furthermore, in recent years, NAEMT has cleaned up their act and have become duly focused on the issues facing the profession. The dues are inexpensive. The organization is sound. Yet, very few EMS people are members. Why do people not join? Unfortunately, some in EMS don’t feel they are a part of the EMS community. All of us, whether we work for a private EMS service, fire department, governmental entity, hospital or similar operation are all EMS providers. NAEMT is devoted to protecting the interests of EMS providers regardless of the employer or EMS delivery model. Likewise, many state EMS associations exist yet are also poorly supported by EMS providers. In the U.S., EMS is a local governmental responsibility. Because of this, representation of the profession at the state level is very important -- yet almost nonexistent!

If you are not a member of NAEMT and your local EMS association, it is time to join. I joined both NAEMT and the EMS Association of Texas (EMSAT) although, technically, I am not a prehospital provider. Interestingly, I just recently read an email thread about the Johnson & Johnson television ad that supports nursing as a profession. EMS providers were angry that the entire ad showed nurses working in the prehospital setting. I completely understand. They complained like typical keyboard warriors. But that was it. Little did they know that NAEMT had already addressed this ad with Johnson & Johnson. If they were members, they would have known.

Second, EMS is one of the few public service professions without a national memorial that honors our colleagues who have fallen in the line of duty. We, as a profession, have an ethical duty to assure that our fallen brothers and sisters are forever remembered. There has been an EMS Memorial Service each spring in Roanoke, Va. While the need for a memorial and the memorial service are different issues, this is something each of us should be involved in. There is presently an ongoing controversy about where the memorial should be and who should be responsible for it. Different groups come to the table with different ideas and agendas. Instead of dividing the profession we should unite and work together to assure that a bona fide memorial is placed somewhere in this great land where people can come to reflect and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. If we are all on one page, instead of the usually divided image, then we will attain our goal. If we are united, major sponsors will follow and make the national EMS memorial a reality.

Third, there has been a recent interest in preserving our legacy through a National EMS Museum. Many people have put in many thankless hours to get the museum up and running. NAEMT has provided some seed money. But, like everything in EMS, we are again divided. There is a push to have the national EMS museum at the Los Angeles County Fire Museum -- not a bad idea. There is also a push to have a pure EMS museum at some location in the country -- also not a bad idea. But, like usual, we have two to three entities trying to achieve the same goal that appear to be competing with each other. As well, personality issues now appear to be affecting the National EMS Museum project. We will never get the needed major sponsors for this project unless we put petty personality issues aside, stop bickering and have an organization that is squeaky clean and fiscally transparent. Again, we are our own worst enemy.

It is time for EMS providers to join our professional organizations and speak with a unified voice. Each EMS provider, whether volunteer or career, should join their state EMS organization and NAEMT. They should also belong to organizations that represent their other work interests (e.g., International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, International Association of Flight Paramedics, etc.). The dues are tax-deductible, and the benefits far outweigh the costs. Likewise, EMS organizations must work hard to be totally transparent and solely represent the interests of the membership. NAEMT has done a great job in addressing this problem. The National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE) appears to be trying to become more transparent. People will only join an organization if they feel their voice is heard by the officers, the organization does not misuse their dues, and the organization presents an image and voice that totally represents the profession.
So, can the apathy! Quit being EMS keyboard warriors! Join the organizations of the profession that pertain to your work. The future of EMS is dependent upon such actions.

OPINION: Families of Deceased First Responders Deserve Better

2007-10-30T08:56:00.000-04:00

By U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.
October 26, 2007

Four years ago, Congress did the right thing for the families of first responders who die in the line of duty from a stroke or heart attack. Unfortunately, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not carried out the wishes of Congress in making sure that these families get the benefits to which they are entitled.

In 2003, Congress passed the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act to correct a technicality in a 30-year-old law to ensure that the families of firefighters, law enforcement officers, and EMS workers who die in the line of duty from a heart attack or stroke receive financial help.

I am a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and we recently held a hearing about the lack of action by the Department of Justice in processing these claims in a timely manner. In fact, the DOJ took three years just to issue its regulations for implementing the law, a delay that has harmed many surviving families of first responders. At the hearing, I questioned the director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, about this issue.

It has now been four years since the Hometown Heroes bill became a law and the DOJ has approved only 12 claims, denied 50, and has another 240 applicants pending. This is unconscionable.

The DOJ’s claims process is bewildering at best. For example, a U.S. Forest Service firefighter in Florida was found dead 45-feet behind a fire line with a shovel in his hand. His family was denied benefits because it could not be determined whether he was engaged in “strenuous activity” at the time of his heart attack. Other families face burdensome requirements such as producing 10 years of past medical records.

This was never the intent of the law. Heart attacks and strokes are a grim fact of life and death in the high-pressure jobs of first responders. A recent Harvard University study found that firefighters engaged in emergency response are up to 100 times more likely to die of a heart attack than the general
public.

The DOJ should immediately expedite all of its outstanding Hometown Heroes claims. It also needs to revise the criteria for evaluating claims to remove the bureaucratic hurdles that have prevented families from receiving the benefits that Congress intended.

Emergency first responders put their lives on the line for us everyday. We owe their families our gratitude, our respect and our help.

Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program: Contact Information For more information about this program or to obtain forms, contact:

Benefits Office Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 Seventh Street NW.
Washington, DC 20531
202–307–0635
Toll free: 1–888–SIGNL13 (744–6513)
Fax: 202–616–0314
E-mail: AskPSOB@usdoj.gov

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/psob/psob_main.html

Barrington Ambulance Honored

2007-10-01T09:03:00.000-04:00

Anthony Maggio, EMS Chief for Barrington EMS, accepts an Organizational Service Award from President Jennifer Frenette at the NHAEMT 2007 Annual Meeting. The award was given in recognition of Barrington Ambulance Department as the first NH EMS organization in 20 years to commit as a whole to the Association.

Good Job and Thanks!

NHAEMT Annual Meeting

2007-09-13T00:39:00.000-04:00

The 2007 NHAEMT Annual Meeting will be held on 9/25 at 18:30 hours at

the Safety and Health Council of NH, 163 Manchester Street, Concord, NH.

It is located across from VIP Auto Parts and next door to Aquanuts Dive Shop.
1.4 miles from Exit 13 of I93 on the left.

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