Author - Jenny Abercrombie

Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Vaccine Information

The Johnson & Johnson's (J&J) Vaccine started distribution this month and has been used at vaccination sites throughout the US. This vaccine is a different type of vaccine, called a virus vector vaccine; it requires only one shot to achieve full vaccination.  The vaccine is also easier to store since it needs only refrigeration and has a longer shelf life.  This article covers what is known about the vaccine and what is not, including how the vaccine was developed and...

1st CDC Guidance for Those Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19

The CDC has issued its first Guidance for those who are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  The definition of fully vaccinated depends on which vaccine was administered, but is two weeks after the final shot; so two weeks after shot #2 for mRNA vaccines Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna and two weeks after for the single shot adenovirus vaccine Janssen/J & J.  The CDC outlines what those that are fully vaccinated should do, and under what circumstances, while also outlining what should...

Ebola in Guinea & the DRC Update

There are now two separate Ebola Outbreaks in Africa; one is in the DRC and the other is in Guinea. Guinea, in West Africa is where the Ebola Epidemic of 2014-2016 occurred, which spread to countries in and out of Africa, including the United States. The last Ebola Outbreak in the DRC just ended 11/20 after 5 months. In an abundance of caution, the US Government has vowed to assist the WHO and other Partner Agencies with stopping the current outbreaks...

National EMS Museum – Coffee with Doc and Todd Stout

Dr. Richard Clinchy and Todd talk about Jack Stout, his impact on EMS systems and the academic research he conducted into how pre-hospital care is delivered, and hear about Todd's journey in EMS and what led him to form FirstWatch, one of the largest EMS tech companies in North America. To support the digitization of the Stout Collection at the National EMS Museum, please donate at emsmuseum.org/support

JEMS – EMS Agencies Combat Patient Offload Delays Due to COVID-19

JEMS article – While offload delays aren’t a new hurdle for EMS, they have become increasingly challenging as COVID-19 cases rise. Hospitals at full capacity have led to ambulances waiting longer—in some cases for several hours—to complete patient handoffs. These delays and subsequent diversions can have a negative impact on patient care and limit the availability of emergency resources. In response, some EMS systems are implementing new processes and technology to combat the extended wait times.

Resilience Dialogues – March 12th, 2021

These dialogues are open forums to explore resilience, all the things that cause stress in our lives, relationships, and more. Please join us for these monthly interactive sessions where everyone, including family members, is welcome. They will be held the second Friday of the month at 9am Pacific Time.

Finding Valid Information & Keeping Up-to-Date on COVID-19

A year into the Pandemic, there is lots of information about COVID-19 out there – more and more based on sound science -- but not all of it.  We absolutely want & need the cutting-edge info to help guide recommendations for all things COVID, but we also need it to be based on validatable science so we can rely on it.  This article explores some of the ways to find reliable scientific opinion if not completely validated science.  It also...

List of Employer & Employee COVID-19 Resources for the General Workplace & Specific Occupations

This list of Resources with links is provides In an attempt to make this updated info available more quickly, this document provides a list, divided into topics, each with links and a synopsis of what each site represents.  There are way too many available articles/sites to include them all, so these pages represent some of what I perceive are the best on the subject, at least at the moment selected.  Most of the sites also provide links to other sites...

Dept of Homeland Security National Terrorism Bulletin

The US DHS has released a Terrorism Advisory Bulletin to alert all people of a need to be aware of their surrounding and report any suspicious information or activity. It is included here, for Public Safety / First Responder Agencies, who may not be part of a direct intel sharing system.  It also includes a few ways that the Bulletin can be used by these agencies as well as information on how to report the info/activity. View/Download the Article with Links

New Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This article is for awareness only.  A new Ebola outbreak in the Eastern Province of North Kivu, DRC, has been announced by the DRC and WHO.  Only two cases have been reported although there are more than 100 contacts, many of them high risk, which are being surveilled.   The two cases were women who had close contact and have both died.  The first case is married to an Ebola survivor from a previous outbreak in the Region, which just ended...

COVID-19 In the News Update

The available information about COVID-19 is updating/changing on a daily, if not hourly, basis.  In an attempt to make this updated info available more quickly, this document provides a list, divided into topics, each with links and a synopsis of what each site represents.  There are way too many available articles/sites to include them all, so these pages represent some of what I perceive are the best on the subject, at least at the moment selected. Most of the sites also...

COVID-19 Vaccine and Vaccination Update

The two mRNA vaccines have been out for more than a month and 4,263,056 individuals have already completed their vaccination series, while millions more await their second shot in the series, and even more are waiting to begin their vaccinations.  This update covers what is known about the current vaccines and what is not, that even after vaccination, it is essential that everyone continue their current protective behaviors, particularly with the finding of COVID-19 Variants in both Canada and the...

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Variants

A year into the COVID Pandemic, and the SARS-CoV-2 virus has mutated millions of times as it transmitted between people.  It is what viruses do to survive & thrive.  Several of those mutations have resulted in COVID Virus Variants.  These variants have been identified by genetic sequencing in the few countries that have been doing aggressive testing for just these changes.  Three global variants have been officially identified and, at least temporarily, named. This article outlines why this happens, what...

Paramedic Chiefs of Canada White Paper: Discussion on 10 Guiding Principles for Paramedicine in Canada | February 4th

In this session, we presented the results of research study that has led to the generation of 10 guiding principles for paramedicine in Canada to consider in structuring the profession’s transition and evolution. Collectively, these principles provide a national coordinated vision and guidance on how to proceed within paramedicine in Canada, while permitting enactment in ways that are sensitive to local and contextual variation.

Paramedic Chiefs of Canada – Revolutionizing EMS: New Models of Care to Address Changing Health Care Needs in the Age of COVID | January 21st

Across Canada, access to appropriate health care is an ongoing challenge, and pressures within our health care system – wait times, hospital overcrowding, patient backlog – have only been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. To address these challenges, integrated primary health care teams across the country are working to help patients receive the care they need in their homes and communities, where they are often happiest and healthiest.

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinations to protect against COVID-19 have begun in the United States.  This article supplies some FAQs with subsequent discussion intended to help each individual come to their own personal choice on COVID-19 Vaccination based on sound information.  This same info can provide an opening for an agency to plan their approach to determining how COVID-19 Vaccinations fit into their Agency and Operational Plan. There is also a list of Resources & Links with supporting materials divided into easy to identify...