Fwd: DenverPost.com: 2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

May 12, 2006

Good morning All,

Did I miss this thread somewhere? I know it's highly unlikely that it hasn't

hit this list yet.

Very sad ....

, LP, RN

DenverPost.com: 2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

This article was mailed to you by:

The sender included this message:

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denver & the west

2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

Three other people were taken to hospitals; one of them was listed in critical

condition, officials said.

By Manny and Felisa Cardona

Denver Post Staff Writers

DenverPost.com

An ambulance carrying five people crashed into a tractor-trailer truck Tuesday

18 miles west of Sterling, killing two women on board and injuring three others,

Logan County officials said.

The ambulance was carrying a pregnant woman, a critical-care patient from

Ogallala, Neb., to University Hospital in Denver, said , division

general manager for Rural/Metro Ambulance.

One of the women killed was believed to be a paramedic and the other, the mother

of the patient, deputy coroner Bill Van Pelt said.

The two women killed were identified by the Colorado State Patrol as

Woods, 43, of , and Vicky , age and address unknown.

The driver of the ambulance, Larusso, 22, of Westminster, and Dan Beza,

31, of Centennial, a passenger in the ambulance, were taken to Sterling Regional

Medical Center, the State Patrol said, where they were treated and released.

Kelsey Schlichenmayer of Burlington, a patient in the ambulance, also was taken

to the Sterling hospital, then airlifted to Swedish Medical Center in Englewood,

where she was listed in critical condition Tuesday night.

The State Patrol closed westbound Interstate 76 where the crash occurred at the

Merino exit.

" The ambulance is completely demolished, " Van Pelt said, looking at the crash

scene.

" The whole front end is torn away, the compartment in back is intact, but

everything is scattered and thrown all around, " he said. " It's a terrible

sight. "

The driver of the semi, Plamen Zelyamov of Chicago, wasn't injured, authorities

said.

The crash was reported about 4 p.m., on I-76 between Sterling and Brush.

State Patrol Capt. Doug Copley said preliminary findings indicate the ambulance

hit the left rear of the semi while attempting to pass. Prior to the crash, both

vehicles were traveling on the right lane.

The speed of the crash had not been determined.

One of the women killed was thrown from the vehicle.

This was the second fatal crash this month involving an ambulance.

On May 1, Boulder High student Hannah Bauer Boemker, 16, was killed when

her car struck an ambulance in Boulder as she left her part-time job at a

senior-living complex.

This e-mail was initiated by machine [10.148.8.5] at IP [10.148.8.5].

May 12, 2006

,

You were the first to post it...I have about 10 pictures from the scene...pretty

bad accident...they hit the rear of the 18-wheeler so hard that the front of the

box is still stuck to the back of the trailer.

Can't imagine...will have to wait and see what the cause was...we gotta stop

this insanity.

Dudley

DenverPost.com: 2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

This article was mailed to you by:

The sender included this message:

Click to View this Article

denver & the west

2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

Three other people were taken to hospitals; one of them was listed in critical

condition, officials said.

By Manny and Felisa Cardona

Denver Post Staff Writers

DenverPost.com

An ambulance carrying five people crashed into a tractor-trailer truck Tuesday

18 miles west of Sterling, killing two women on board and injuring three others,

Logan County officials said.

The ambulance was carrying a pregnant woman, a critical-care patient from

Ogallala, Neb., to University Hospital in Denver, said , division

general manager for Rural/Metro Ambulance.

One of the women killed was believed to be a paramedic and the other, the mother

of the patient, deputy coroner Bill Van Pelt said.

The two women killed were identified by the Colorado State Patrol as

Woods, 43, of , and Vicky , age and address unknown.

The driver of the ambulance, Larusso, 22, of Westminster, and Dan Beza,

31, of Centennial, a passenger in the ambulance, were taken to Sterling Regional

Medical Center, the State Patrol said, where they were treated and released.

Kelsey Schlichenmayer of Burlington, a patient in the ambulance, also was taken

to the Sterling hospital, then airlifted to Swedish Medical Center in Englewood,

where she was listed in critical condition Tuesday night.

The State Patrol closed westbound Interstate 76 where the crash occurred at the

Merino exit.

" The ambulance is completely demolished, " Van Pelt said, looking at the crash

scene.

" The whole front end is torn away, the compartment in back is intact, but

everything is scattered and thrown all around, " he said. " It's a terrible

sight. "

The driver of the semi, Plamen Zelyamov of Chicago, wasn't injured, authorities

said.

The crash was reported about 4 p.m., on I-76 between Sterling and Brush.

State Patrol Capt. Doug Copley said preliminary findings indicate the ambulance

hit the left rear of the semi while attempting to pass. Prior to the crash, both

vehicles were traveling on the right lane.

The speed of the crash had not been determined.

One of the women killed was thrown from the vehicle.

This was the second fatal crash this month involving an ambulance.

On May 1, Boulder High student Hannah Bauer Boemker, 16, was killed when

her car struck an ambulance in Boulder as she left her part-time job at a

senior-living complex.

This e-mail was initiated by machine [10.148.8.5] at IP [10.148.8.5].

May 12, 2006

could ya mail me the pics off the list?

DenverPost.com: 2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

This article was mailed to you by:

The sender included this message:

Click to View this Article

denver & the west

2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

Three other people were taken to hospitals; one of them was listed in critical

condition, officials said.

By Manny and Felisa Cardona

Denver Post Staff Writers

DenverPost.com

An ambulance carrying five people crashed into a tractor-trailer truck Tuesday

18 miles west of Sterling, killing two women on board and injuring three

others,

Logan County officials said.

The ambulance was carrying a pregnant woman, a critical-care patient from

Ogallala, Neb., to University Hospital in Denver, said ,

division

general manager for Rural/Metro Ambulance.

One of the women killed was believed to be a paramedic and the other, the

mother

of the patient, deputy coroner Bill Van Pelt said.

The two women killed were identified by the Colorado State Patrol as

Woods, 43, of , and Vicky , age and address unknown.

The driver of the ambulance, Larusso, 22, of Westminster, and Dan Beza,

31, of Centennial, a passenger in the ambulance, were taken to Sterling

Regional

Medical Center, the State Patrol said, where they were treated and released.

Kelsey Schlichenmayer of Burlington, a patient in the ambulance, also was

taken

to the Sterling hospital, then airlifted to Swedish Medical Center in

Englewood,

where she was listed in critical condition Tuesday night.

The State Patrol closed westbound Interstate 76 where the crash occurred at

the

Merino exit.

" The ambulance is completely demolished, " Van Pelt said, looking at the crash

scene.

" The whole front end is torn away, the compartment in back is intact, but

everything is scattered and thrown all around, " he said. " It's a terrible

sight. "

The driver of the semi, Plamen Zelyamov of Chicago, wasn't injured,

authorities

said.

The crash was reported about 4 p.m., on I-76 between Sterling and Brush.

State Patrol Capt. Doug Copley said preliminary findings indicate the

ambulance

hit the left rear of the semi while attempting to pass. Prior to the crash,

both

vehicles were traveling on the right lane.

The speed of the crash had not been determined.

One of the women killed was thrown from the vehicle.

This was the second fatal crash this month involving an ambulance.

On May 1, Boulder High student Hannah Bauer Boemker, 16, was killed

when

her car struck an ambulance in Boulder as she left her part-time job at a

senior-living complex.

This e-mail was initiated by machine [10.148.8.5] at IP [10.148.8.5].

May 12, 2006

From: THEDUDMAN@...

Can't imagine...will have to wait and see what the cause was...we gotta

stop this insanity.

Dudley

Dudley,

You are so right. No matter what the cause, it has to stop.

We are our own worst enemy.

Hatfield FF/EMT-P

www.michaelhatfield.net

www.canyonlakefire-ems.org

May 12, 2006

Dudley,

You're right about stopping the insanity. I'm still amazed that the group

hasn't even mentioned it. We hear about and discuss on this list almost every

Air EMS crash, particularly involving a fatality. The Ground EMS crashes are

just as devastating.

Maybe we should make " ambulance drivers " just that ... " Professional Ambulance

Drivers " without medical training. The drivers of the EMS airplanes and

helicopters are hired just to drive, why not ambulances. And, hey, they have to

have a certain amount of time behind the " wheel " to even be considered.

Here's another benefit of having Professional Ambulance Drivers, besides safety

that is, the public won't have a hard time learning what to call them.

Anyway, hope everyone stays safe out there.

DenverPost.com: 2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

This article was mailed to you by:

The sender included this message:

Click to View this Article

denver & the west

2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

Three other people were taken to hospitals; one of them was listed in critical

condition, officials said.

By Manny and Felisa Cardona

Denver Post Staff Writers

DenverPost.com

An ambulance carrying five people crashed into a tractor-trailer truck Tuesday

18 miles west of Sterling, killing two women on board and injuring three others,

Logan County officials said.

The ambulance was carrying a pregnant woman, a critical-care patient from

Ogallala, Neb., to University Hospital in Denver, said , division

general manager for Rural/Metro Ambulance.

One of the women killed was believed to be a paramedic and the other, the mother

of the patient, deputy coroner Bill Van Pelt said.

The two women killed were identified by the Colorado State Patrol as

Woods, 43, of , and Vicky , age and address unknown.

The driver of the ambulance, Larusso, 22, of Westminster, and Dan Beza,

31, of Centennial, a passenger in the ambulance, were taken to Sterling Regional

Medical Center, the State Patrol said, where they were treated and released.

Kelsey Schlichenmayer of Burlington, a patient in the ambulance, also was taken

to the Sterling hospital, then airlifted to Swedish Medical Center in Englewood,

where she was listed in critical condition Tuesday night.

The State Patrol closed westbound Interstate 76 where the crash occurred at the

Merino exit.

" The ambulance is completely demolished, " Van Pelt said, looking at the crash

scene.

" The whole front end is torn away, the compartment in back is intact, but

everything is scattered and thrown all around, " he said. " It's a terrible

sight. "

The driver of the semi, Plamen Zelyamov of Chicago, wasn't injured, authorities

said.

The crash was reported about 4 p.m., on I-76 between Sterling and Brush.

State Patrol Capt. Doug Copley said preliminary findings indicate the ambulance

hit the left rear of the semi while attempting to pass. Prior to the crash, both

vehicles were traveling on the right lane.

The speed of the crash had not been determined.

One of the women killed was thrown from the vehicle.

This was the second fatal crash this month involving an ambulance.

On May 1, Boulder High student Hannah Bauer Boemker, 16, was killed when

her car struck an ambulance in Boulder as she left her part-time job at a

senior-living complex.

This e-mail was initiated by machine [10.148.8.5] at IP [10.148.8.5].

May 13, 2006

The group has mentioned it several times. Heads are shaken in disbelief

that such horrible things could happen to " us " . The reality is that EMS

professionals have almost the same LOD mortality rate as Police officers,

with a majority of the fatalities being crash related.

We don't wear seat belts in the back of the unit. Even when we can, they

are not going to prevent injury or death. They will merely keep us from

rolling around in the unit like a dryer. We don't wear helmets, or any

other form of head protection either. Take a look at the inside of the

patient compartment sometime. Look at all of the metal, and sharp, or hard

corners that your head could strike, even if seat belted in the captain's

chair. Heck, I think we all know too many medics that don't wear seat belts

while driving or riding in the front compartment.

Sadly, some of the proposed solutions, such as " black box " technology, are

scoffed at, and said to be " punitive " and not educational. Okay, obviously

in some cases education doesn't work. I have to take CEVO about once a

year, and I don't mind. Even though my company made the course *mandatory*

and paid us to be there, it still was like pulling teeth to get folks to

come. They had to resort to threatening suspension to any person who hadn't

taken the course by the required date, and even that didn't work for some

folks. Black boxes aren't punitive in my opinion. If the program in

implemented *well* and they are used in the right context, you can cut the

amount of accidents by upwards of 90%. Those who are concerned that they

are punitive, well, if you aren't driving badly, you won't have anything to

worry about now will ya? :-)

Here's a link to an article about ambulance crash data / testing done by Dr.

Nadine Levick of Maimonides Hospital. The data is frightening.

http://www.saferidenews.com/html/Spec_Amb.html

Here also is a link to her site Objective:

Safety<http://www.objectivesafety.net/index.html>

There is a Webinar on Pediatric transport safety, which also has a lot of

really good data about crashes in general. It is on the " recorded

presentations " page, at the bottom.

Some of the data that she has collected is:

Approx. 8,500 collisions involving EMS or Fire vehicles every year, and this

is a LOW estimate.

1 fatality per week, 10 serious injuries per day, and 10,000 injuries

reported per year.

25% of fatalities are ambulance occupants, 75% are pedestrians, or in other

vehicles.

82% of fatally injured rear ambulance occupants (EMS) were unrestrained.

74% of all occupational fatalities for EMS are MVC related.

65% of all fatal injuries to EMS are head injuries.

In a 35mph collision, an unrestrained 15kg child is exposed to the same

forces as falling from a 4 story window. (550kg/force in 0.03 seconds)

Unfortunately, the reality is that there are no " good " solutions. The

entire automotive industry has struggled with the same problem for as long

as there have been crashes. The best we can do to arm ourselves is to

utilize the protective equipment we do have, and try to influence designers

to incorporate more safety features. I know AMR had a concept vehicle at

this year's EMS Conference that had tons of safety features built in, and

while it's far from perfect, it was a huge step in the right direction. Now

all we have to do is work on getting the cost down, ha ha ha......

-Meris NREMT-P Austin, TX :-)

>

> Dudley,

>

> You're right about stopping the insanity. I'm still amazed that the group

> hasn't even mentioned it. We hear about and discuss on this list almost

> every Air EMS crash, particularly involving a fatality. The Ground EMS

> crashes are just as devastating.

>

> Maybe we should make " ambulance drivers " just that ... " Professional

> Ambulance Drivers " without medical training. The drivers of the EMS

> airplanes and helicopters are hired just to drive, why not ambulances. And,

> hey, they have to have a certain amount of time behind the " wheel " to even

> be considered.

>

> Here's another benefit of having Professional Ambulance Drivers, besides

> safety that is, the public won't have a hard time learning what to call

> them.

>

> Anyway, hope everyone stays safe out there.

>

> DenverPost.com: 2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

>

> This article was mailed to you by:

> The sender included this message:

>

> Click to View this Article

> denver & the west

> 2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

> Three other people were taken to hospitals; one of them was listed in

> critical

> condition, officials said.

> By Manny and Felisa Cardona

> Denver Post Staff Writers

> DenverPost.com

>

> An ambulance carrying five people crashed into a tractor-trailer truck

> Tuesday

> 18 miles west of Sterling, killing two women on board and injuring three

> others,

>

> Logan County officials said.

> The ambulance was carrying a pregnant woman, a critical-care patient from

> Ogallala, Neb., to University Hospital in Denver, said ,

> division

>

> general manager for Rural/Metro Ambulance.

> One of the women killed was believed to be a paramedic and the other, the

> mother

>

> of the patient, deputy coroner Bill Van Pelt said.

> The two women killed were identified by the Colorado State Patrol as

> Woods, 43, of , and Vicky , age and address unknown.

> The driver of the ambulance, Larusso, 22, of Westminster, and Dan

> Beza,

> 31, of Centennial, a passenger in the ambulance, were taken to Sterling

> Regional

>

> Medical Center, the State Patrol said, where they were treated and

> released.

> Kelsey Schlichenmayer of Burlington, a patient in the ambulance, also was

> taken

> to the Sterling hospital, then airlifted to Swedish Medical Center in

> Englewood,

>

> where she was listed in critical condition Tuesday night.

> The State Patrol closed westbound Interstate 76 where the crash occurred

> at the

> Merino exit.

> " The ambulance is completely demolished, " Van Pelt said, looking at the

> crash

> scene.

> " The whole front end is torn away, the compartment in back is intact, but

> everything is scattered and thrown all around, " he said. " It's a terrible

> sight. "

> The driver of the semi, Plamen Zelyamov of Chicago, wasn't injured,

> authorities

> said.

> The crash was reported about 4 p.m., on I-76 between Sterling and Brush.

> State Patrol Capt. Doug Copley said preliminary findings indicate the

> ambulance

> hit the left rear of the semi while attempting to pass. Prior to the

> crash, both

>

> vehicles were traveling on the right lane.

> The speed of the crash had not been determined.

> One of the women killed was thrown from the vehicle.

> This was the second fatal crash this month involving an ambulance.

> On May 1, Boulder High student Hannah Bauer Boemker, 16, was killed

> when

> her car struck an ambulance in Boulder as she left her part-time job at a

> senior-living complex.

> This e-mail was initiated by machine [ 10.148.8.5] at IP [10.148.8.5].

>

May 13, 2006

While I was in Mississippi I had to have an EMS drvers license issued

by the state. Of course there was no requirement other than sending

money into the state to get it. But the company that I worked for did

require that everyone attend a driving course annually. Not just the

type of course that teaches you how to park but one in which we also

had high speed braking and handling instruction on an aiport runway.

Those were sonme of the best classes I have attended.

Having worked here in Texas in the past with people who have fallen

asleep behind the wheel at a red light and having numerous speed

complaints from various partners,and management not taking action

until the same person drove through a field after falling asleep

behind the wheel with medic and pt in the truck, it does not suprise

me to see this happen. Of course it always takes something extreme to

wake up management. I'm sure that after all the lawsuits are settled

and the cost of replacing the unit hits the shareholders desk maybe

R/M will take better care about driving discipline.

Just my thoughts.........

>

> Dudley,

>

> You're right about stopping the insanity. I'm still amazed that the

group hasn't even mentioned it. We hear about and discuss on this

list almost every Air EMS crash, particularly involving a fatality.

The Ground EMS crashes are just as devastating.

>

> Maybe we should make " ambulance drivers " just that ... " Professional

Ambulance Drivers " without medical training. The drivers of the EMS

airplanes and helicopters are hired just to drive, why not ambulances.

And, hey, they have to have a certain amount of time behind the

" wheel " to even be considered.

>

> Here's another benefit of having Professional Ambulance Drivers,

besides safety that is, the public won't have a hard time learning

what to call them.

>

> Anyway, hope everyone stays safe out there.

>

> DenverPost.com: 2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

>

> This article was mailed to you by:

> The sender included this message:

>

> Click to View this Article

> denver & the west

> 2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

> Three other people were taken to hospitals; one of them was listed

in critical

> condition, officials said.

> By Manny and Felisa Cardona

> Denver Post Staff Writers

> DenverPost.com

>

> An ambulance carrying five people crashed into a tractor-trailer

truck Tuesday

> 18 miles west of Sterling, killing two women on board and injuring

three others,

>

> Logan County officials said.

> The ambulance was carrying a pregnant woman, a critical-care patient

from

> Ogallala, Neb., to University Hospital in Denver, said

, division

>

> general manager for Rural/Metro Ambulance.

> One of the women killed was believed to be a paramedic and the

other, the mother

>

> of the patient, deputy coroner Bill Van Pelt said.

> The two women killed were identified by the Colorado State Patrol as

> Woods, 43, of , and Vicky , age and address unknown.

> The driver of the ambulance, Larusso, 22, of Westminster, and

Dan Beza,

> 31, of Centennial, a passenger in the ambulance, were taken to

Sterling Regional

>

> Medical Center, the State Patrol said, where they were treated and

released.

> Kelsey Schlichenmayer of Burlington, a patient in the ambulance,

also was taken

> to the Sterling hospital, then airlifted to Swedish Medical Center

in Englewood,

>

> where she was listed in critical condition Tuesday night.

> The State Patrol closed westbound Interstate 76 where the crash

occurred at the

> Merino exit.

> " The ambulance is completely demolished, " Van Pelt said, looking at

the crash

> scene.

> " The whole front end is torn away, the compartment in back is

intact, but

> everything is scattered and thrown all around, " he said. " It's a

terrible

> sight. "

> The driver of the semi, Plamen Zelyamov of Chicago, wasn't injured,

authorities

> said.

> The crash was reported about 4 p.m., on I-76 between Sterling and

Brush.

> State Patrol Capt. Doug Copley said preliminary findings indicate

the ambulance

> hit the left rear of the semi while attempting to pass. Prior to the

crash, both

>

> vehicles were traveling on the right lane.

> The speed of the crash had not been determined.

> One of the women killed was thrown from the vehicle.

> This was the second fatal crash this month involving an ambulance.

> On May 1, Boulder High student Hannah Bauer Boemker, 16, was

killed when

> her car struck an ambulance in Boulder as she left her part-time job

at a

> senior-living complex.

> This e-mail was initiated by machine [10.148.8.5] at IP [10.148.8.5].

>

May 13, 2006

Can you post the pics? I think that everyone should see them and hopefully think

about driving a little more carefully. I have been in the back with some maniacs

driving and have been thrown from the bench seat to the walkway between the cab

and patient compartment.

Re: Fwd: DenverPost.com: 2 women die as ambulance hits

semi on I-76

could ya mail me the pics off the list?

DenverPost.com: 2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

This article was mailed to you by:

The sender included this message:

Click to View this Article

denver & the west

2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

Three other people were taken to hospitals; one of them was listed in critical

condition, officials said.

By Manny and Felisa Cardona

Denver Post Staff Writers

DenverPost.com

An ambulance carrying five people crashed into a tractor-trailer truck Tuesday

18 miles west of Sterling, killing two women on board and injuring three

others,

Logan County officials said.

The ambulance was carrying a pregnant woman, a critical-care patient from

Ogallala, Neb., to University Hospital in Denver, said ,

division

general manager for Rural/Metro Ambulance.

One of the women killed was believed to be a paramedic and the other, the

mother

of the patient, deputy coroner Bill Van Pelt said.

The two women killed were identified by the Colorado State Patrol as

Woods, 43, of , and Vicky , age and address unknown.

The driver of the ambulance, Larusso, 22, of Westminster, and Dan Beza,

31, of Centennial, a passenger in the ambulance, were taken to Sterling

Regional

Medical Center, the State Patrol said, where they were treated and released.

Kelsey Schlichenmayer of Burlington, a patient in the ambulance, also was

taken

to the Sterling hospital, then airlifted to Swedish Medical Center in

Englewood,

where she was listed in critical condition Tuesday night.

The State Patrol closed westbound Interstate 76 where the crash occurred at

the

Merino exit.

" The ambulance is completely demolished, " Van Pelt said, looking at the crash

scene.

" The whole front end is torn away, the compartment in back is intact, but

everything is scattered and thrown all around, " he said. " It's a terrible

sight. "

The driver of the semi, Plamen Zelyamov of Chicago, wasn't injured,

authorities

said.

The crash was reported about 4 p.m., on I-76 between Sterling and Brush.

State Patrol Capt. Doug Copley said preliminary findings indicate the

ambulance

hit the left rear of the semi while attempting to pass. Prior to the crash,

both

vehicles were traveling on the right lane.

The speed of the crash had not been determined.

One of the women killed was thrown from the vehicle.

This was the second fatal crash this month involving an ambulance.

On May 1, Boulder High student Hannah Bauer Boemker, 16, was killed

when

her car struck an ambulance in Boulder as she left her part-time job at a

senior-living complex.

This e-mail was initiated by machine [10.148.8.5] at IP [10.148.8.5].

May 13, 2006

is right. We have overly concentrated on helicopter accidents. While

helicopter accidents have more propensity to kill, the number of ground

ambulance accidents are increasing as well--many fatal or extremely serious.

Some things to consider:

1. The research has now pretty well demonstrated that if you cannot make it

on scene in less than 4 minutes, it really doesn't matter (and 4 minutes

addresses only cardiac arrest). No EMS system can have a 4-minute response

time.

2. There is no science to support an 8-minute response time. None.

3. Given the knowledge that the Golden Hour is a fallacy, and given that we

have been harming trauma patients with high-volume fluids, we don't know

what the critical interval is. We have been defeating the body's

compensatory survival mechanism. We know now that few patients benefit from

speed/time (hence the fallacy of air medical transport).

4. Study after study has shown that lights and sirens response only

decreases response times a little--not a clinically-significant period. We

need to abandon lights and siren response for the most part. In this day of

tinted windows, boom boxes, hip hop, MP3 players, and cell phones--nobody

pulls over for an ambulance. I just got in from Palm Springs. This morning I

saw an AMR ambulance almost get hit at an intersection near Cathedral City.

I met my wife in Arlington at the Parks Mall. I pulled out of the Parks Mall

in Arlington and Truck 9 from the AFD was going to a minor car wreck at

Matlock and Arbrook. Nobody, and I mean nobody, pulled over. I was going to

COSTCO in a pick-up and, by happenstance, beat the AFD truck (the accident

was in the parking lot at COSTCO). (No I did not get out to help--AMR had it

well under control)

5. Jeff Clawson told me yesterday that Salt Lake FD had started making all

BRAVO responses Code 1 (MVCs, lift assists). That is, SFD responds Code 1 to

most EMS calls now. In 6-years, there have been no negative outcomes and in

come cases (Engine 13) the response times actually improved.

6. Nadine Levick, MD (Maidomoness medical Center--Brooklyn has been

researching this and is a great speaker and would be great for the Texas

conference.)

Now, to leave a turd in the punchbowl, answer this?

1. Why is it necessary to respond a fire truck to an EMS call? For many

years we responded ambulances and all was well. Manpower is rarely needed

and first response does not seem to impact outcome. So, why respond a fire

truck that gets 2 gallons per mile. It is ludicrous and does not occur in

other countries except when manpower is needed, extrication is needed, or

there is a fire hazard. Decreasing the number of responding vehicles will

keep risks down. But, such writing is heresy in that fire departments are

looking at every possible way to justify their costs. Fire prevention,

building codes, have made fire departments nearly obsolete. EMS seems like a

way to keep people busy despite the fact that multiple apparatus responses

are more for show.

2. Improved EVOCs. When I was a paramedic (and giants roamed the Earth) we

used to go to Austin and take the emergency driving course that Texas DPS

takes. I don't know when that stopped but I learned a lot driving those old

Dodge DPS cars on their course.

3. Only a patient's medical condition should guide lights and siren

transport and response. I would guess that we could decrease Code 3 response

to Code 1 responses in 6-=70% of cases and not have any negative outcomes.

We have to change the culture. The air medical industry is trying to fix

their safety issues (at least some are). Ground EMS has just as many

problems.

BEB

DenverPost.com: 2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

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denver & the west

2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

Three other people were taken to hospitals; one of them was listed in

critical

condition, officials said.

By Manny and Felisa Cardona

Denver Post Staff Writers

DenverPost.com

An ambulance carrying five people crashed into a tractor-trailer truck

Tuesday

18 miles west of Sterling, killing two women on board and injuring three

others,

Logan County officials said.

The ambulance was carrying a pregnant woman, a critical-care patient from

Ogallala, Neb., to University Hospital in Denver, said ,

division

general manager for Rural/Metro Ambulance.

One of the women killed was believed to be a paramedic and the other, the

mother

of the patient, deputy coroner Bill Van Pelt said.

The two women killed were identified by the Colorado State Patrol as

Woods, 43, of , and Vicky , age and address unknown.

The driver of the ambulance, Larusso, 22, of Westminster, and Dan

Beza,

31, of Centennial, a passenger in the ambulance, were taken to Sterling

Regional

Medical Center, the State Patrol said, where they were treated and released.

Kelsey Schlichenmayer of Burlington, a patient in the ambulance, also was

taken

to the Sterling hospital, then airlifted to Swedish Medical Center in

Englewood,

where she was listed in critical condition Tuesday night.

The State Patrol closed westbound Interstate 76 where the crash occurred at

the

Merino exit.

" The ambulance is completely demolished, " Van Pelt said, looking at the

crash

scene.

" The whole front end is torn away, the compartment in back is intact, but

everything is scattered and thrown all around, " he said. " It's a terrible

sight. "

The driver of the semi, Plamen Zelyamov of Chicago, wasn't injured,

authorities

said.

The crash was reported about 4 p.m., on I-76 between Sterling and Brush.

State Patrol Capt. Doug Copley said preliminary findings indicate the

ambulance

hit the left rear of the semi while attempting to pass. Prior to the crash,

both

vehicles were traveling on the right lane.

The speed of the crash had not been determined.

One of the women killed was thrown from the vehicle.

This was the second fatal crash this month involving an ambulance.

On May 1, Boulder High student Hannah Bauer Boemker, 16, was killed

when

her car struck an ambulance in Boulder as she left her part-time job at a

senior-living complex.

This e-mail was initiated by machine [10.148.8.5] at IP [10.148.8.5].

May 13, 2006

Along the same lines:

http://www.jems.com/Columnists/bledsoe/articles/104334/

BEB

DenverPost.com: 2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

This article was mailed to you by:

The sender included this message:

Click to View this Article

denver & the west

2 women die as ambulance hits semi on I-76

Three other people were taken to hospitals; one of them was listed in

critical

condition, officials said.

By Manny and Felisa Cardona

Denver Post Staff Writers

DenverPost.com

An ambulance carrying five people crashed into a tractor-trailer truck

Tuesday

18 miles west of Sterling, killing two women on board and injuring three

others,

Logan County officials said.

The ambulance was carrying a pregnant woman, a critical-care patient from

Ogallala, Neb., to University Hospital in Denver, said ,

division

general manager for Rural/Metro Ambulance.

One of the women killed was believed to be a paramedic and the other, the

mother

of the patient, deputy coroner Bill Van Pelt said.

The two women killed were identified by the Colorado State Patrol as

Woods, 43, of , and Vicky , age and address unknown.

The driver of the ambulance, Larusso, 22, of Westminster, and Dan

Beza,

31, of Centennial, a passenger in the ambulance, were taken to Sterling

Regional

Medical Center, the State Patrol said, where they were treated and released.

Kelsey Schlichenmayer of Burlington, a patient in the ambulance, also was

taken

to the Sterling hospital, then airlifted to Swedish Medical Center in

Englewood,

where she was listed in critical condition Tuesday night.

The State Patrol closed westbound Interstate 76 where the crash occurred at

the

Merino exit.

" The ambulance is completely demolished, " Van Pelt said, looking at the

crash

scene.

" The whole front end is torn away, the compartment in back is intact, but

everything is scattered and thrown all around, " he said. " It's a terrible

sight. "

The driver of the semi, Plamen Zelyamov of Chicago, wasn't injured,

authorities

said.

The crash was reported about 4 p.m., on I-76 between Sterling and Brush.

State Patrol Capt. Doug Copley said preliminary findings indicate the

ambulance

hit the left rear of the semi while attempting to pass. Prior to the crash,

both

vehicles were traveling on the right lane.

The speed of the crash had not been determined.

One of the women killed was thrown from the vehicle.

This was the second fatal crash this month involving an ambulance.

On May 1, Boulder High student Hannah Bauer Boemker, 16, was killed

when

her car struck an ambulance in Boulder as she left her part-time job at a

senior-living complex.

This e-mail was initiated by machine [10.148.8.5] at IP [10.148.8.5].

May 13, 2006

> 2. Improved EVOCs. When I was a paramedic (and giants roamed the Earth) we

> used to go to Austin and take the emergency driving course that Texas DPS

> takes. I don't know when that stopped but I learned a lot driving those old

> Dodge DPS cars on their course.

I can't second this strongly enough. I've been lucky enough to go

through three EVOC related courses where I actually got time behind

the wheel in abnormal driving situations. First was when I went

through my initial police training - low speed manuvering progressing

to high speed manuvering. Second was when I obtained my Class B

license training on a 3-axle, 42,000 lb heavy rescue. Third was with

Austin/ County EMS (in the Freightliner ambulances) on an old

runway, and was a multi-day course that progressively became faster

and faster and focused on collision avoidance (and learning how to not

overdirve the vehicle into a collision in the first place) techniques

such as hard cornering (in a top-heavy ambulance), off-roadway

recovery, etc.

I routinely drive " pursuit style " as a police officer, and I'm always

amazed at how few people react to lights/sirens, much less react

properly. Granted, I've got it worse - people panic when they see a

police car lit up in the rearview mirror - but I make it a point to

follow EMS and fire units when I can, so that I can write that " Fail

to Yield ROW " ticket the moron that doesn't move.

Everyone, me included, should be taking a hands-on EVOC course and

have their performance evaluated at least annually - more than any

other skill, we use driving skills the most. I have to qualify with

my handgun every year, and the likelihood of me shooting someone is

very, very low compared to me getting into an at-fault collision.

Medics have to renew card courses, CPR, etc. every two years - why not

a " driving course " card?

Mike

May 14, 2006

This is probally a service to service thing. Where I work it is mandatory to

attend EVOC every year.

Mike wrote: On 5/13/06, Bledsoe, DO

wrote: