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August 24, 2016Read more...

Should EMS Data be Monitored for Zika Infection?

FirstWatch likes to provide surveillance and early warning for many different threats to our clients – that was, in fact, the initial reason for starting the company. So, it makes sense that the question would be asked by us, and perhaps by you, if Zika should be monitored through the data we capture for you. We have seriously contemplated it and will outline our rationale to not recommend doing so at this time. However, we would very much like to...

August 24, 2016Read more...

Zika in all but 4 U.S. States

There are currently three scenarios in which the Zika virus is spreading: areas where local mosquito transmission is occurring, areas that have the potential for having local mosquito transmission (have Aedes mosquitos & have or have had Zika infected people), and those areas where Zika transmission is very unlikely although travel-related infections may occur. The only states that do not have travel-related cases are Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, and South Dakota. First responders should continue to avoid mosquito breeding around the worksite,...

March 16, 2016Read more...

Influenza Update: 2015-2016, Week Ending 2-27-16

Download the below information in PDF form Influenza 2015-2016 On Feb 1, 2016, the CDC published a notice that the Influenza (Flu) season had begun and that severe cases of flu had been reported. This time frame represents a more typical flu season than the past three years which have had an early onset and peak. This season (2015-16) showed a slow rise of cases through December and a much higher case rate beginning in Jan., with elevated numbers of cases still...

March 16, 2016Read more...

UPDATED: What EMS Should Know About Zika

Download the below information in PDF form Current Assessment The largest outbreak of the Zika virus continues with active circulation (local transmission) in many countries in South and Central America and the Caribbean, in some of the Islands in Oceania/Pacific Islands and in Cape Verde, Africa. Over a hundred imported cases, by way of returning travelers, have been identified in the United States, Canada, and countries throughout the world. One case in Texas was contracted in the US (not imported) via sexual...

February 12, 2016Read more...

Confirmed Zika Transmission through Intercourse

Download the below information in PDF form Update Since my last writing on Zika, there have been new developments. Multiple cases of Zika have been diagnosed in the United States, all of which were imported into the country with the exception of one. This single case was transmitted to an individual by sexual contact in Dallas, TX. During the investigation, it was found that the Zika virus can live in semen and transmitted to sexual partners through intercourse. This is the second case...

January 20, 2016Read more...

What EMS Should Know About Zika

Download the below information in PDF form Current Assessment The largest outbreak of the Zika virus is occurring in Central and South America with fear that the virus will become more widespread to other countries. There has been a rapid surge in Zika virus infections, particularly in Brazil. While the Zika virus usually causes no immediate harm to the patient, it is linked to microencephaly (small head and brain) in the developing fetus of pregnant women. The first US case of Zika induced microencephaly was detected...

June 11, 2015Read more...

MERS-CoV Outbreak in Korea

Download the below information in PDF form The World Health Organization is reporting an outbreak of Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome caused by the Corona Virus, otherwise known as MERS-CoV. On May 20th, a case of MERS was confirmed in South Korea. The index patient had recently traveled to the Middle East including Qatar, UAE and Bahrain. The patient had sought treatment in Korea for influenza type symptoms at multiple healthcare locations and eventually diagnosed with the virus. There have been an additional...

May 6, 2015Read more...

EMS and Medical Surge: Essential Legal Issues Webinar

Members of our FirstWatch team were invited to attend an upcoming webinar on EMS and Medical Essential Legal Issues. As this is an important topic for our industry, we thought many of our customers might find this webinar useful and wanted to share it with you. Please find details and login information for the upcoming webinar below: To facilitate the sharing of key research and analysis on the legal issues impacting emergency medical services (EMS) providers during medical surge or public...

January 27, 2015Read more...

CDC Grant Opportunity – Ebola Preparedness and Response Activities

The CDC is awarding a total of $145 million in supplemental funding to the current 62 Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement awardees to support accelerated Ebola public health preparedness planning and response. The Ebola supplemental funding budget period and project period are 18 months: April 1, 2015,through September 30, 2016. This funding is intended to support the nation’s public health system and to assure readiness and response capability to respond effectively to Ebola virus disease (EVD) within the community. Funds are intended...

January 9, 2015Read more...

Early Indications from CDC Point to Bad Flu Season

Download PDF  Predictions and early indications from the CDC point to a bad influenza season. There are a couple of reasons why they are worried about this year being particularly challenging. The predominant strain circulating this year is Influenza A - H3N2, a strain that is not included in this year’s trivalent influenza vaccine. To learn what this means for EMS, download the PDF.

January 8, 2015Read more...

Wrap-Up: Ebola International Webinar Discussion

We recognize that Ebola is still an issue across the world, however it seems to be generally contained to the few suffering countries for now. As a result, we held our last webinar Thursday, January 8th which included a summary of our previous sessions, discussion of what we learned from this experience, and review of things that could be improved for similar events going forward. These webinars would not have been possible without the support of our participants, guest speakers, moderators...

December 18, 2014Read more...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

The eighth webinar held on Thursday, December 18th included featured guest speaker Dr. Ed Racht, Chief Medical Officer at AMR, who discussed their comprehensive approach to transporting Ebola patients in Dallas, TX. The Paramedic Chiefs of Canada continued their weekly international webinar discussion open to any public safety agency led by representatives from our FirstWatch team. These webinars are presented in association with the International Association of EMS Chiefs (IAEMSC), the National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA), and the International Academies of...

December 10, 2014Read more...

CDC Warning on Influenza

Download PDF  The CDC sent out a health advisory on December 3, 2014 regarding the potential for a poor match between the circulating influenza strain and the vaccine. The CDC states that flu activity is low right now, but expects it to begin increasing as the winter wears on. Influenza A (H3N2) is the predominant strain seen so far this flu season. To learn what this means for EMS, download the PDF.

November 20, 2014Read more...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

The sixth webinar held on Thursday November 20th included special guest presenter Dr. Richard Alcorta, acting Co-Executive Director and State EMS Medical Director at MEIMSS, who spoke to Maryland's statewide implementation of the IAED EID tool and their findings so far. The Paramedic Chiefs of Canada continued their weekly international webinar discussion open to any public safety agency led by representatives from our FirstWatch team. These webinars are presented in association with the International Association of EMS Chiefs (IAEMSC), the National...

November 6, 2014Read more...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

The fifth webinar held on Thursday November 6th included special guests Peter Simpson, Clinical Operations Manager, East of England Ambulance Trust, Norwich, United Kingdom and Catherine Jackson-Cole, Ambulance Coordinator, Pharmacist and Medical Student , Sierra Leone, West Africa. Together they provided us with on the ground perspective of the Ebola virus straight from the Command Center in Sierra Leone. The Paramedic Chiefs of Canada continued their weekly international webinar discussion open to any public safety agency led by representatives from our...

November 4, 2014Read more...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

The seventh webinar held on Thursday November 4th included featured guest speakers, Battalion Chief Edward Bergamini and Captain Paul Miano of FDNY who shared with us their experience transporting Dr. Craig Spencer who returned from Africa, developed Ebola symptoms, and then cleared his 21 day monitoring. The Paramedic Chiefs of Canada continued their weekly international webinar discussion open to any public safety agency led by representatives from our FirstWatch team. These webinars are presented in association with the International Association of...

October 30, 2014Read more...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

The fourth webinar held on Thursday October 30th included special guest Russell MacDonald, MD, MPH, FRCPC, Associate Professor and Co-Director of Emergency Medicine at the University of Toronto, Medical Director and Chair of the Quality Care Committee for Ornge Transport Medicine, Medical Advisor at Toronto Paramedic Services and Attending Staff member, Emergency Services at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Dr. Russell provided us with the "101" of Ebola as he discussed where the disease came from, it's current status, the facts...

October 23, 2014Read more...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

The third webinar held on Thursday October 23rd included special guests Alexander Isakov, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director, Section of Prehospital and Disaster Medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine, with Wade Milles, Interim Director of EMS Operations and Aaron Jamison, Special Operations Team Captain at Grady EMS.Together they detailed their experience in transporting and treating a confirmed Ebola patient from Dallas. The Paramedic Chiefs of Canada continued their weekly international webinar discussion open to any...

October 16, 2014Read more...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

The second webinar held on Thursday October 16th included special guests Dr. Jeff Clawson and Dr. Conrad Fivaz of IAED, who explained the newly updated ProQA Emerging Infectious Disease tool, Lloyd Rupp Jr., EMS Chief Omaha Fire Department, and Dr. John Lowe, Director for Public Health Training and Exercise Programs for the the Center of Bio Preparedness Education at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) who discussed their experience in the transportation of two Ebola patients. The Paramedic Chiefs of...

October 9, 2014Read more...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

This weeks webinar features special guest Chief Normal Seals, EMS Chief at the Dallas Fire Department who spoke to his agency's experience with Ebola and fielded questions. With growing attention on the Ebola virus, the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada have began a weekly international webinar discussion open to interested participants led by representatives from our FirstWatch team. These webinars are presented in association with the International Association of EMS Chiefs (IAEMSC), the National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA), and the International Academies...