EMS Archives - FirstWatch

New Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic Of The Congo (DRC)

IN THE NEWS New Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic Of The Congo (DRC) On August 1, 2018, just a week after the outbreak of Ebola in the northwestern part of the country was declared over, initial testing suggests that there is a new outbreak of Ebola in the northeastern part of the DRC. The DRC Minister of Health said that four (4) people in the new area preliminarily tested positive for Ebola, and there have been 26 people with signs [...]

August 2, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Health Intelligence, New To Watch Ebola, EMS, Health Intelligence, Safety Comments Off

EBOLA OUTBREAK IN DRC IS OVER

IN THE NEWS EBOLA OUTBREAK IN DRC IS OVER As of July 24, 2018, the Health Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared the Ebola outbreak over in his country, after the completion of two incubation periods since the last treated patient, without any more cases confirmed. Both the WHO and CDC concurred with his entire message. A 90-day enhanced surveillance period will be in place in case there are latent infections or missed exposures. Ultimately, there were [...]

July 30, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Health Intelligence, New To Watch Ebola, EMS, Health Intelligence, Safety Comments Off

ZIKA UPDATE 7/23/18

There have been recent reports, from new agencies and other organizations, about Zika cases in the United States for 2018. It seemed important to clarify exactly what those reports mean at this time, while also stating that the current status in the United States could change at any time. Those areas with mosquitos that can carry the Zika virus need to be aware of this possibility, particularly after high rain/standing water events. Specifically, although there are currently Zika cases in [...]

July 30, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Health Intelligence, Zika EMS, Public Health, Zika Comments Off

How EMS Can Unleash the Power of Data – JEMS’ Q&A with Todd Stout

Read the latest article in JEMS, “How EMS Can Unleash the Power of Data” featuring a Q&A with our Founder and President, Todd Stout. In this article, Todd speaks about the history of FirstWatch, the power of data, and his optimism for the future. Read the Full Article Here.

July 19, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Announcements, FirstWatch News, In the Media, Online Media EMS Comments Off

CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Update on 7/11/18

IN THE NEWS CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Update on 7/11/18 The CDC has published a Health Update (HAN 00413), via their network, and found at this site: https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00413.asp. The original HAN Advisory and subsequent Updates tell the story of the escalating opioid crisis, particularly involving the synthetic opioid, Fentanyl and Fentanyl analogs, and their impact on overdose and overdose deaths in the United States. Specifically, this Health Update is to alert public health departments, health care professionals, first responders, medical examiners, [...]

July 13, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Health Intelligence, New To Watch EMS, Health Intelligence, Opioids, Safety Comments Off

Ebola Outbreak June 30, 2018

IN THE NEWS Ebola Outbreak June 30, 2018 The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the WHO updated Ebola virus disease (EVD case numbers on June 28 to a total of 55 cases with 38 Confirmed, 15 Probable, & 2 suspected, and a 29-person death toll. There have been no cases in any country aside from the DRC. A statement by the DRC Minister of Health (via Google Translation), regarding the current outbreak, announced that all the people who were [...]

July 2, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Health Intelligence, New To Watch EMS, Health Intelligence, Opioids, Safety Comments Off

First Responder Health & Safety Links

CDC / NIOSH Emergency Responders Resources including: • Safety Management • Bloodborne Infectious Disease • Personal Protective Equipment • Traumatic Incident Stress https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/responders.html Safety Management: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/index.html Bloodborne Infectious Disease: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/ppe.html Incident Stress: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/traumaticincident/ Download the list of links

June 26, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Employee Safety, Health Intelligence EMS, Health Intelligence, Opioids, Safety Comments Off

Detection & Management of Opioid Exposure for Public Safety Working Dogs

IN THE NEWS Detection & Management of Opioid Exposure for Public Safety Working Dogs Veterinary Doctors Maureen McMichael & Ashley Mitek, in conjunction with the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and Working Dogs HQ and partnering with Carle Regional Emergency Medical System and Carle Arrow Ambulance, have developed a program to assess and treat working service dogs (primarily in scent detection) that may have had an exposure to opiates and may be showing signs of overdose. The program continues [...]

June 26, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Health Intelligence, New To Watch EMS, Health Intelligence, Opioids, Safety Comments Off

Detection & Management of Opioid Exposure for Public Safety Working Dogs

Although this subject is outside the usual scope of FirstWatch’s focus, it’s recognized that working service dogs that assist local, state and federal law enforcement and other agency partners (FBI, DEA, TSA, MPs, etc.), do so at great risk and deserve to be protected from harm. We are including links to this program which include assessment, treatment, and transport for further care of public safety working dogs who have been exposed to opiates and may need advanced care and possible [...]

June 26, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Employee Safety, Health Intelligence EMS, Health Intelligence, Opioids, Safety Comments Off

Ebola Outbreak June 15, 2018

IN THE NEWS Ebola Outbreak June 15, 2018 The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the WHO updated Ebola cases numbers on June 13 to a total of 66 cases with 38 Confirmed, 14 Probable, & 14 suspected, with a 28-person death toll. There still have been no cases in the United States or in any country aside from the DRC. In the outbreak area, over 2600 Ebola contacts and other high-risk individuals, such as health care workers and others in [...]

June 18, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Health Intelligence, New To Watch EMS, Health Intelligence, Opioids, Safety Comments Off

New EMS1 Column Post by Mike Taigman – Universal precautions are not just to protect us

Read the latest post in the new Paramedic Chief column via EMS1, “Universal precautions are not just to protect us” written by our own Improvement Guide, Mike Taigman. This column focuses on practices that protect patients as well as health care workers, with some sound practical steps crews can implement immediately. Read the Latest Column Article Here. Access all Column Articles Here.

June 15, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Announcements, FirstWatch News, In the Media, Online Media EMS Comments Off

Ebola Outbreak June 8, 2018

IN THE NEWS Ebola Outbreak June 8, 2018 Although the CDC has not posted updated numbers since the May 18th Notice, Dr. Peter Salama, the Deputy Director-General for Emergency Response, updated the cases numbers to a total of 60 cases with 37 Confirmed, 14 Probable, 9 suspected, with a 27-person death toll. Over 1100 contacts and high-risk individuals, such as health care workers and others providing care have been vaccinated with a promising but still experimental vaccine from Merck; several treatment [...]

June 11, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Health Intelligence, New To Watch EMS, Health Intelligence, Opioids, Safety Comments Off

EBOLA RESOURCES 2018

View Website – View Website – Information on the current outbreak View Website – Map of affected areas for the current outbreak (May 2018) View Website – Travel Notices for the Congo View Website – General information about Ebola View Website – Description View Website – Transmission View Website – Signs & Symptoms View Website – Prevention View Website – For Prehospital Providers, EMS, [...]

May 31, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Health Intelligence EMS, Health Intelligence, Opioids, Safety Comments Off

Ebola Outbreak May 31, 2018

IN THE NEWS Ebola Outbreak May 31, 2018 As you are no doubt aware from the media, there is an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There are no cases in the United States or in any country aside from the DRC. The World Health Organization’s Emergency Committee met May 18th and decided that the outbreak should not be considered an International Health Event, at least at this time, but is of concern and will be closely [...]

May 31, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Health Intelligence, New To Watch EMS, Health Intelligence, Opioids, Safety Comments Off

E. Coli O157:H7 in Lettuce Update as of May 26, 2018

IN THE NEWS E. Coli O157:H7 in Lettuce Update as of May 26, 2018 Latest Information: There is NO new update posted from CDC on the E. Coli contamination of Romaine Lettuce. The information is from the one posted on 5/16/18 which contained an update of cases and states reported through 5/15/18. Therefore, the cases and statistics remain the same as those posted in the last update. They are repeated below: To date, there have been 172 cases of E Coli O157:H7 in [...]

May 26, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Health Intelligence, New To Watch EMS, Health Intelligence, Opioids, Safety Comments Off

Influenza Update Week Ending 5-19-2018

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week #20 Week Ending 5-19-18 FLU and ILI news continued to improve and, although there were still Flu and ILI cases, as well as hospitalizations and deaths from influenza, based on the numbers, it is the waning weeks of the 2017-18 Flu Season. So, unless something unexpected happens, this will be the last FirstWatch Flu Summary for Flu Season 2017-18. The CDC will continue to publish their Weekly Flu Reports and Summaries; they can be accessed through [...]

May 25, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Influenza EMS, Health Intelligence, Influenza, Public Health Comments Off

Influenza Update Week Ending 5-12-2018

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week #19 Week Ending 5-12-18 FLU and ILI news continued to get better although there were still two indicators that have not normalized, specifically, hospitalizations and pediatric deaths. For the sixth consecutive week, influenza activity (ILI) was below the national baseline. The number of flu and ILI cases both decreased again. A quick glance at the graphs for Percentages of Visits for ILI and Pneumonia and Influenza Mortality Surveillance, gives a pictorial presentation of the severity of [...]

May 18, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Influenza EMS, Health Intelligence, Influenza, Public Health Comments Off

E. Coli O157:H7 in Lettuce Update as of May 16, 2018

IN THE NEWS E. Coli O157:H7 in Lettuce Update as of May 16, 2018 Updated Information: The last update from the CDC on the E. Coli contamination of Romaine Lettuce was posted on 5/16/18 and contained an update of cases and states reported through 5/15/18. To date, there are 172 cases of E Coli O157:H7 in 32 states. Of the 157 cases with known information, there have been 75 hospitalizations (48%), 20 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and one (1) death in [...]

May 16, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Health Intelligence, New To Watch EMS, Health Intelligence, Opioids, Safety Comments Off

Influenza Update Week Ending 5-5-2018

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week #18 Week Ending 5-5-18 Continued good news about Flu but two indicators still have not abated. Specifically, the rate of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase and there are were still a couple of pediatric deaths reported this week but they were during previous weeks. For the fifth time in-a-row since this Flu season became active, influenza activity (ILI) was below the national baseline but remained the same as last week. The number of flu [...]

May 11, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Influenza EMS, Health Intelligence, Influenza, Public Health Comments Off

New EMS1 Column Post by Mike Taigman – EMS policy change and QI: Plan, Do, Study, Act

Read the latest post in the new Paramedic Chief column via EMS1, “Better EMS Performance” led by our own Improvement Guide, Mike Taigman. In this column, Mike highlights the importance of viewing protocol changes through the lens of improvement science. Read the Latest Column Article Here. Access all Column Articles Here.

May 11, 2018 By Jenny Abercrombie Announcements, FirstWatch News, In the Media, Online Media EMS Comments Off