THE FOLLOWING IS A REPRINT FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS NEWSLETTER
"ON SCENE"
ROUND ONE TO CENTRAL PIERCE
By Gary G. Ludwig, MS, EMT-P
The last column reported that Medtrans had filed a lawsuit
against Central Pierce Fire & Rescue (WA) on their effort
to increase service levels to their citizens.
Assistant Chief and EMS Section Secretary John Sinclair
informs us United States District Judge Franklin D. Burgess
has denied the motion for a preliminary injunction. In an
order handed down February 23, 1996, the judge wrote,
"The Plaintiff (Medtrans) has not adequately demonstrated
that the Defendant (CPF&R) is not entitled to Parker
immunity. Parker immunity, based upon principles of
federalism and state sovereignty, may apply to local
governmental bodies as well as to states." Earlier the
judge denied a temporary restraining order. Chief Sinclair
can be reached at 206-848-4587.
March 9th was the date that the Plantation (FL) Fire
Department dedicated their new EMS program. Robert
Pudney, Chief of the PFD says, "This dedication will begin
a new page in the history of our Fire Department. The
incorporation of EMS into our organization enables us to
provide full fire and life safety services to citizens we serve."
In a joining of the "old" and "new", state of the art new PFD
rescue vehicles with computer work stations inside the back
of the unit were involved in a "housing ceremony." Division
Chief Frank Jacobson explains that in the old days, when
returning from a fire call, the horses were unable to push the
steam fire engine back into it's quarters. The firefighters
would then call upon available neighbors to assist with
pushing, or "housing" the vehicle back into quarters. In the
dedication ceremony, the new rescue vehicles were "housed"
into the station. For more information contact Chief Jacobson
at 954-797-2150.
For those EMS Section members (or if your not an EMS
Section member) attending EMS Expo in Atlanta
(April 18-20,1996), plan on attending the bi-annual EMS
Section meeting. This year's Section meeting will be held
on Friday evening, April 19th in the convention center, itself.
Watch for announcements at the conference for time and
room number. The EMS Expo is only a few weeks away
and it is not too late to register. The fire track which is
sponsored by the EMS Section will include lectures by
Don Lee on "Stay Alive: EMS Scene Safety"; John Sinclair
on "Hero, Helper, Healer: The Evolution of an EMS Provider";
Fred Thorp on "Things that Go Bump: Critical Issues in EMS";
Kevin Brame on "Surviving Jurassic Park"; Jim Denney on
"Scene of the Crime"; and your's truly doing "Person Shot!".
For more information call 800-243-3238.
AMR has announced their gross sales for 1995 - $483.8 million.
In a released statement, their CEO and President Paul Shirley
said, "We continued our aggressive acquisition strategy during
the year, completing 22 acquisitions of providers with operations
in 16 states." Looks like an acquisition a little over one every
two weeks!
Half-century and still going strong! Assistant Chief
Jack Scheben of the Erlanger (KY) Fire Department has spent
50 of his 66 years on the department. Chief of the Department
Bill Martin tells me that Chief Scheben is a certified EMT-first
responder and is not beyond responding to medical calls. At a
recent Erlanger Fire Department Awards Dinner, family and
friends honored him with a $500 gift certificate for an Amtrak
train ride. Additionally, a section of Alice Street leading to
Firehouse No. 2 will henceforth be known as Jack Scheben Drive.
EMS providers who have died in the line of duty will be honored
at the 1996 National EMS Memorial Service, which will be held
on May 25, 1996 at the Greene Memorial United Methodist Church
in Roanoke, VA. Individuals were selected by the National EMS
Memorial Service Committee to receive awards at the fourth annual
ceremony after receiving nominations from EMS agencies and
family members . For more information on attending the service
contact 804-282-3311 or TCSchultz@aol.com on the Internet.
(Ed. Note: The opinions expressed are those of Mr. Ludwig or the EMS Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, please contact him at the addresses below, should you have questions, comments or suggestions.)
Gary G. Ludwig is on the Executive Board of the EMS Section and
is the EMS Chief with the St. Louis Fire Department, responsible for
EMS and communications. He can be reached at 314-533-4175;
fax 314-289-1977; AOL at GaryLudwig; or LUDWIGSTLFD
on ICHIEFS.
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