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You, as the 911 caller, are a vital link within the EMS system. The information you provide the dispatch operator helps EMS help you. The following lists the guidelines for communicating the 911 call: Try to remain calm emotions can deter effective communications.

Speak slowly, deliberately. Respond to all questions presented by the dispatch operator. Give a brief, concise description of the emergency, including: the nature of the illness, for example, chest pain with difficult breathing; the mechanism causing the injury, for example, a fall from a 6-foot ladder; the number of patients involved and the types of treatment being rendered by bystanders or first responders.

Know the complete residential or business address, including street number and community, especially if you are calling from a cellular phone. Assist emergency response to the address by ensuring the house number is visible from the street and turning on porch lights. You might send a bystander to meet the ambulance. Do not hang up until directed by the dispatch operator.

2010 The National EMS Memorial Service announced Friday that Colorado Springs has been selected as the new home for the National "Tree of Life" EMS Memorial and the annual EMS Memorial Service, beginning in 2010.

A site selection committee was established in 2006 to review options for the memorial and the annual service. According to a news release issued by the National EMS Memorial Service, 14 cities expressed interest, with three cities, Kansas City, Washington DC, and Colorado Springs named as finalists. Colorado Springs was the winner.

The National EMS Memorial Service press release states: "This was not an easy choice for us. All three locations would have served well as hosts for the Service. This selection was the culmination of almost two years' work by our Site Selection Committee and other board members." said Memorial Service President Kevin L. Dillard.

Dillard's sentiments were echoed by Kevin Agard, Memorial Service board member and chair of the Site Selection Committee. "As someone involved in this process from the start, I can tell you without fear of contradiction that this was a most difficult decision for everyone involved. The coalitions from the EMS communities of Colorado Springs and Kansas City, along with the folks from the EMS Labor Alliance, who spearheaded the effort to bring the Service to the District of Columbia, put a lot of time, effort and money into promoting those locations. But more than that, they were all very supportive of our efforts and of the Service as a whole."

When asked why Colorado Springs was ultimately the choice, Agard said "This was not simply a matter of finding a place to erect a memorial. The new host city will also have to be able to support the ongoing annual event that is the National EMS Memorial Service. So this decision involved a fairly large number of factors for us. Paramount among these is our consideration for the family members of our honorees. Our focus has always been on the families and in the end, I believe that most of our board members voted the way they did because they believe that Colorado Springs is the best option for those families."

Dillard said the Memorial Service will move to Colorado Springs in 2010 and that the organization will now move on to the design and fund-raising phases of the project with an eye towards having the new memorial completed in time for that year's Memorial Service.

1. No cause for panic.

So far, swine flu isn't much more threatening than regular seasonal flu.

During the few months of this new flu's existence, hospitalizations and deaths from it seem to be lower than the average seen for seasonal flu, and the virus hasn't dramatically mutated. That's what health officials have observed in the Southern Hemisphere where flu season is now winding down.

Still, more people are susceptible to swine flu and U.S. health officials are worried because it hung in so firmly here during the summer -- a time of year the flu usually goes away.

2. Virus tougher on some.

Swine flu is more of a threat to certain groups -- children under 2, pregnant women, people with health

problems like asthma, diabetes and heart disease. Teens and young adults are also more vulnerable to swine flu. Ordinary, seasonal flu hits older people the hardest, but not swine flu. Scientists think older people may have some immunity from exposure years earlier to viruses similar to swine flu.

3. Wash your hands often and long.

Like seasonal flu, swine flu spreads through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick. Emphasize to children that they should wash with soap and water long enough to finish singing the alphabet song, "Now I know my ABC's..." Also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

4. Get the kids vaccinated.

These groups should be first in line for swine flu shots, especially if vaccine supplies are limited -- people 6 months to 24 years old, pregnant women, health care workers. Also a priority: Parents and caregivers of infants, people with those high-risk medical conditions previously noted.

5. Get your shots early.

Millions of swine flu shots should be available by October. If you are in one of the priority groups, try to get your shot as early as possible.

Check with your doctor or local or state health department about where to do this. Many children should be able to get vaccinated at school. Permission forms will be sent home in advance.

6. Immunity takes awhile.

Even those first in line for shots won't have immunity until around Thanksgiving.

That's because it's likely to take two shots, given three weeks apart, to provide protection. And it takes a week or two after the last shot for the vaccine to take full effect.

The regular seasonal flu shot should be widely available in September. People over 50 are urged to be among the first to get that shot.

7. Vaccines are being tested.

Health officials presume the swine flu vaccine is safe and effective, but they're testing it to make sure.

The federal government has begun studies in eight cities across the country to assess its effectiveness and figure out the best dose. Vaccine makers are doing their own tests as well.

8. Help! Surrounded by swine flu.

If an outbreak of swine flu hits your area before you're vaccinated, be extra cautious.

Stay away from public gathering places like malls, sports events and churches. Try to keep your distance from people in general. Keep washing those hands and keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and

mouth.

9. What if you get sick?

If you have other health problems or are pregnant and develop flu-like symptoms, call your doctor right away. You may be prescribed Tamiflu or Relenza. These drugs can reduce the severity of swine flu if taken right after symptoms start.

If you develop breathing problems (rapid breathing for kids), pain in your chest, constant vomiting or a fever that keeps rising, go to an emergency room.

Most people, though, should just stay home and rest. Cough into your elbow or shoulder. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever breaks. Fluids and pain relievers like Tylenol can help with achiness and fever. Always check with a doctor before giving children any medicines. Adult cold and flu remedies are not for them.

10. No swine flu from barbecue.

You can't catch swine flu from pork -- or poultry either (even though it recently turned up in turkeys in Chile). Swine flu is not spread by handling meat, whether it's raw or cooked.

Source: CDC

11-12-2009 Emergency Medical Services Authority reported half as many accidents involving its ambulances in Oklahoma so far this year compared with 2008. Through November 2008, EMSA had 16 ambulance wrecks at intersections statewide. During the same time period this year, EMSA reportedly had eight collisions.

EMSA cites the introduction of new siren technology known as the “Howler,” which emits low-frequency tones, known as "howler siren." These sirens cause objects within 200 feet to reverberate, so that motorists can feel ambulances approaching, even if they cannot see them.

The reduction in collisions saved EMSA an estimated $80,000. "Of course, that's just damage to our ambulances," said Kelly Smith, EMSA fleet manager. "It's not at all unusual for cars that collide with ambulances to be totaled. "And there's a human aspect -- injuries, pain and suffering, lost productivity - that must be considered, too."

December 29, 2009 A final report released this week involving the fatal Ambulance Accident on October 22, 2009, has raised serious questions about the Paramedic who was driving the Rural/Metro Ambulance then struck a Tennessee Department of Transportation truck.

The epileptic seizure that, according to Metro Police, caused the October 22, 2009 Ambulance crash that killed two people, was not the ambulance driver's first. Questions are being raised regarding the reinstating of David Cline's driver's license, when the department of safety knew that Cline had a medical condition involving seizures.

The Department of Safety confirmed Cline's driver's license was suspended after a Christmas Day crash in 1999, in his personal vehicle that was, according to reports, seizure related. A department spokesman said Cline's license was suspended March 10, 2000 to April 14, 2000, a mere four weeks. Mike Browning with the Tennessee Highway Patrol also confirmed a doctor's release reinstated Cline's privilege of driving.

Metro's crash report revealed Cline had an on the job seizure, at Franklin's fire hall, roughly four years ago. Cline was put on light duty, but returned to usual job obligations after the release of two physicians, his personal doctor and the fire department's doctor.

"I think Mr. Cline, under his doctor's orders, felt like he had this under control," said Moore. "I don't think he felt that he was doing anything that jeopardized anybody's life. Surely, had he thought that he would've [posed a risk], he'd have asked somebody else to drive or prevented himself from driving."

The family of Sue Bly, the patient who died in the crash as she was being transported in the rear of Cline's ambulance, is not as forgiving. Bly's widower and five children have hired Nashville attorney David Briley to look into potential liability.

"He had epilepsy, he had narcolepsy, and there's some evidence that he was texting at the time of the accident," said Briley. Briley said he hopes to avoid the filing of a civil lawsuit, but also hopes Rural/Metro, the ambulance company Cline was driving for the day of the crash, implements some changes like more thorough background checks. An attorney for Rural/Metro insisted the company had no knowledge of a medical history.

Tony Dalton, of Knoxville, said a background check on behalf of Cline revealed three things: a valid, EMT's license; a valid Tennessee driver's license with zero restrictions; and a flawless driving record. Franklin Fire Department also admitted having no knowledge of a pre-existing medical condition on behalf of Cline.

Moore said Cline had the right to be private, but he did have an obligation to public safety. He suggested Cline might have voluntarily removed himself from road duty, had he known a seizure was possible. "Was he taking his medication properly?" asked Moore. "I don't know. If the doctor prescribed the medication, and if the doctor said you're good to go based on A, B, and C, and he did not follow A, B, and C, then certainly he burdens some of the fault."

The Medical Examiner's preliminarily report showed only Adderall in Cline's system at the moment of death. The Adderall was used to combat Cline's unpredictable bouts with sudden sleep. The report also revealed no traces of Depakote, the drug used to control Cline's epileptic seizures.

Robert Green, the TDOT driver who was hit by Cline in the wreck, is still off the job. Doctors determined he needs brain surgery because of the crash.

Kansas City Fire Chief Smokey Dyer would also become the chief executive officer of MAST under a memorandum approved Tuesday by the ambulance service’s board. The board made the decision after a closed-door discussion at its monthly meeting.

The Kansas City Council is expected to vote Thursday on Dyer’s appointment. Dyer would be in charge of the Metropolitan Ambulance Services Trust during its transition into city government. The ambulance service is scheduled to be folded into the Fire Department by April 25, 2010.

The board also approved spending up to $60,000 to have one of two consulting firms helping with the transition delve further into the issue of billing. Management Partners Inc. originally was supposed to lead the issue. But Dyer and board members said they were not happy with that firm’s work. MAST will ask the second firm, Emergency Services Consulting International, to amend its original $116,000 assignment to include billing.

Elpaso New Mexico 02-08-2010: The three-member crew of a Southwest Med Evac helicopter died Friday night February 05, 2010, when it crashed during a training flight at McGregor Range.

The pilot, William Montgomery of Avondale, Ariz., and two Paramedics, John Sutter of Las Cruces and Anthony Archuleta of El Paso, were killed when the helicopter crashed as it prepared to land, said officials of Southwest Med Evac, a division of Omniflight Helicopters Inc.

The helicopter was not transporting patients. The crew was participating in a training exercise involving a simulated medical evacuation. Friday February 05, 2010, had been the second day of the two-day exercise, Omniflight officials said.

Federal Aviation Administration stated that the Pilot and the Paramedics were in a Eurocopter AS 350, which had flown from the El Paso International Airport to McGregor Range.

The training exercise had gone as planned and Montgomery radioed to company operators to say he intended to land the aircraft and anticipated no problems, prior to the crash according to the FAA.

Fort Pierce FL 03-03-2010 A 22 year-old Emergency Medical Technician is recovering after being hit thier ambulance was struck, Tuesday evening March 03-02-2010. Fort Pierce Police say an SUV driven by 63 year-old Germaine Lindor slammed into an All County ambulance, tipping it on it's side. The ambulance was at the intersection of Virginia Avenue and 25th Street waiting to turn left. Lindor was traveling north on 25th Street. Lindor died at the scene. EMT Chris Doyle and paramedic, William Hines, were inside the ambulance.

They were both rushed to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center. Doyle's left leg was so badly injured, doctors had to amputate. He is listed in critical condition, and will still face additional surgeries as he also faces a long recovery and rehab along with the need for a prosthetic leg. The Medic who was driving at the time, was also injured and transported to the Hospital was St. Lucie County firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician, William Hines, he was treated and released. Firefighter/EMT Doyle is still processing what happened, he is thankful he's alive, "You wouldn't think you'd be happy after something like that, it's life changing, but i'm happy I still have my life." Fort Pierce police are still investigating the crash. Witnesses report that the SUV was traveling at a "high rate of speed, she must have been doing nearly 90 miles an hour according to one witness." Police are investigating whether "Lindor," was speeding as well as if anyone ran a red light.

Elkhart, Ind 03-03-2010 Thor Industries Inc. has acquired SJC Industries, a privately-held manufacturer of ambulances for approximately $20 million cash.

SJC, based in Elkhart, Ind., is believed to be the second-largest manufacturer of ambulances in the U.S., according to a Thor news release. Its brands include McCoy-Miller, Marque and Premiere, which are sold through a nationwide network of dealers.

Under Thor’s new ownership, SJC will continue as an independent operation, in the same manner as Thor’s recreation vehicle and bus companies.

Chuck Drake, president of SJC, and Jim Evans, vice president of finance, will continue in their management roles following the closing. Drake will report to Richard Riegel, Thor’s senior group president.

“The ambulance business is a natural fit with Thor’s bus and RV businesses,” Thor Chairman, CEO and President Peter Orthwein said in a news release. “SJC is an innovator with a strong commitment to customer satisfaction. We believe their quality is the highest in the ambulance industry.”

Jackson Center-based Thor is the world’s largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles and a major builder of commercial buses.

Thor was founded in 1980. It has since grown to include a dozen divisions and has about 5,500 employees. While Thor and Airstream, one of its RV divisions, are based in Ohio, most of the other divisions operate in Northern Indiana and Michigan.

03-08-2010 Bensalem Pensylnnia Paramedic Daniel MacIntosh age 39 died in the line of duty Sunday nignt March 07, 2010, in what many are calling a freak incident. His ambulance responded to a call of a suicidal male in Bensalem Pennsylvania. Upon arrival of the EMS Crew, the patient a male was approached by the the medics. The medics arrived prior to the Police, however Daniel MacIntosh besides a Paramedic, was also a Part-time Police Officer and Firefighter.

The patient ran from the medics, for an unknown reason, Paramedic Daniel MacInosh chased after him. By the time the MacIntosh's partner caught up to MacIntosh, he found his partner lying near a house on Kiansas Ave. near Dunksferry Rd. He was rushed to the Aria Hospital, Torresdale Campus, where MacIntosh was pronounced dead. He had a head injury, according to police.

The patient was taken into protective custody. The Patients name was not being released. Area residents described the man as having a history of disturbed behavior.

Detectives from the Bensalem Twp. Police Dept. were on scene throughout the evening gathering evidence. Nearby roads were closed and residents were kept away.

It is now the protocol for medics to stage their rig a block away and wait for police to arrive and secure the scene. Daniel MacIntosh has been a Parademic for 13 years with Bensalem EMS. In addition MacIntosh also served as a part time Police Officer with the Hulmeville Boro, Police Department and was a Tactical Medic for the Bucks County South SWAT Team. MacIntosh leaves behind his wife and two daughters, ages 1 and 5.