http://www.farems.org:80/News-and-Opportunities.htmlen-usSat, 19 May 2012 06:00:19 EDTSat, 19 May 2012 06:00:19 EDTCommuniSite RSS Generatorhttp://www.farems.org:80/News-and-Opportunities.html0http://www.farems.org:80/News-and-Opportunities/924/Legislative-Update--February-15-2012.htmlThis is an update to where we are to date with all of the bills that we are currently tracking. Remember we are in the last three weeks of session, so things will begin to move faster now. Hang on. Mac Kemp Bill Number Bill Title SB 184 Ocean Lifeguards Last Event: 1/10/2012 8:28:09 AM - 01/10/12 S Introduced -SJ 22 This bill is not moving. CS/HB 241AnonymousWed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.farems.org:80/News-and-Opportunities/612/Scholarships.htmlFAREMS is dedicated to supporting rural Florida EMS agencies in their efforts to improve pre-hospital emergency care in their communities. In order to improve the level of emergency medical care provided to rural Florida citizens, in May 2012, FAREMS will award paramedic scholarships up to $2,500 and EMT scholarships up to $1,000 to citizens currently working in one of Florida's 33 rural counties. These scholarships must be used to pay tuition and books for the candidate to attend a Florida state-approved paramedic or EMT certification program. Click on the links below to access the applications and instructions.Tracy BurgerThu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.farems.org:80/News-and-Opportunities/905/Legislative-Update--January-2012.htmlFrom Mac Kemp: Happy New Year! Hope you are all doing well. Session begins next week and it promises to be a very busy and controversial one. There are a few new bills and I am sure that some of the more divisive issues will wait until session has begun. I will introduce one new bill first then at the end of this email is a recap of where each bill is currently at in the process. I have been told that the Governor's Office is focusing on redistricting and the budget this year, but that next year one of the targets is Special Risk Retirement with the state. His goal is to eliminate or diminish its impact to the retirement system. Something to put on the radar. HB 1019/SB 1286 Treatment Programs for Impaired Professionals - This bill would add EMT's and Paramedics to the Impaired Practitioner Act under the Department of Professional Regulation (DBPR). It authorizes DBPR to place EMT's and Paramedics into a treatment program through MQA. The language seems confusion to me and I am not sure how it all works or the long term implications. I believe the intent is good. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=48284 HB 241/CS/SB 450 Emergency Medical Services - This is the bill that changes the AIDS training requirements for EMS. This bill is moving nicely in both chambers through committee. It still has a long way to go, but the Florida Educators are doing a very good job keeping it moving. Thanks Danny Griffin for your efforts. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=47343 HB 443/SB 736 - School Wellness and Physical Education Policies - This bill requires CPR to be included in first aid training in schools. It does not require certification, just training. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=47601 HB 1227 Certification of 911 Public Safety Telecommunicators - This bill allows certified law enforcement officers to fill in as a dispatcher if they take the state test and exempts them from all other requirements. This is a bad bill and as you all know, being certified in anything does not qualify them to be a dispatcher. There is currently no companion bill for this in the Senate. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=48491 HB 739/SB 1394/SB 1282 Automated External Defibrillators - This bill encourages the notification of public safety answering points of the presence of AED's by AED owners. It also provides other direction regarding AED use and policies. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=47989Tracy BurgerWed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.farems.org:80/News-and-Opportunities/907/State-EMS-Matching-Grant-Opportunities.htmlBeginning January 9, 2012, Florida EMS organizations may submit matching grant applications to request grant funds. The Florida Bureau of EMS must have your application in hand by the deadline, April 20, 2012, 4:00 p. m. Eastern Standard Time. You may also nominate a reviewer to evaluate requests for grant funds. The Florida Bureau of EMS must receive your nomination no later than March 16, 2012. Include an outline of the nominee's experience and contact information. If we need additional reviewers, we will confer with nominees. Reviewers and their organizations may submit applications but they will not review these particular requests. If rural applications are for improvement and expansion of EMS we will automatically review them for both a rural grant and general matching grant. For applications and more information, see the Bureau's website.Tracy BurgerWed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.farems.org:80/News-and-Opportunities/906/EMS-Response-to-Domestic-Vilence-Calls.htmlPlease respond to the following question posed by Mike Patterson, Chief, Putnam County Fire & EMS: It’s unfortunate and shameful that Putnam County is #1 in incidence of domestic violence per capita in the State of Florida. As a result we respond to many assault calls that are related to domestic violence. That being said ,I have a question: What (in your professional opinion) action(s) can be legally taken on behalf of the victim by Fire & EMS if at a scene of an incident with suspected (but unconfirmed) domestic violence activity? This is the call where the crew has a high index of suspicion in regards to domestic violence but the family members are saying that "Mom fell down" or "bumped into a door." Your response would be greatly appreciated.Tracy BurgerTue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.farems.org:80/News-and-Opportunities/904/January-2012-Meeting-Notice.htmlBelow are meeting materials for our 9 am General Meeting, Thursday, January 19, 2012, at Ocean Walk Village Convention Center in Daytona Beach. Conference call-in number is: 888-772-8174; Conference Code is: 352-339-2807.Tracy BurgerMon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.farems.org:80/News-and-Opportunities/632/AHA-12-Lead-and-Pharmacology-Training.htmlFAREMS is partnering with Shands Jacksonville Medical Center to provide the American Heart Association's 12-Lead and Pharmacology/STEMI Provider Course to agency members. This six-hour course is designed to enable healthcare providers the ability to assess, diagnose and treat acute coronoary syndrome (ACS) patients and improve quality care and outcomes in heart attack patients by improving healthcare system's readiness and response to ACS patients. The course is only open to staff of FAREMS agency members for a fee of $20 per student. See attached flyer, and/or contact Tracy for more information.Tracy BurgerSun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.farems.org:80/News-and-Opportunities/815/Legislative-Update--October-2011.htmlBills have been filed and committees are meeting here in Tallahassee. The Legislative season has begun. So far for EMS there seems to be a slow start (thank God), but we will be watching as we get to the start of the session. Session begins this year on January 12th. Here is a listing of bills that we are currently tracking: HB 385 Sovereign Immunity - This bill seeks to expand the protection of Sovereign Immunity for all emergency medical services providers, particularly in disaster situations. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=47532 HB 241/SB 450 Emergency Medical Services - This bill is the repeat of the bill that almost passed last year. It moves Florida to National EMS Education Standards, moves the strategic plan to every 5 years, and removes the 4 hour HIV/AIDS training requirement. This bill is strongly supported by the Florida EMS Educators. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=47343 http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=47411 HB 165/SB 530 Education and Training Opportunities for Public Employees - This bill is also a repeat of last years bills. It would allow universities and colleges to offer free tuition to public EMS, fire, police, and others. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=47258 http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=47491 SB 184 Ocean Lifeguards - This bill would recognize lifeguards as an entity and provide protections such as penalties for assault and battery. Penalties would be the same as battery on a police officer or a paramedic. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=47161 The AHA language for a CPR bill for high school graduation has not been drafted yet. We expect that there will be many more bills to come. Stay tuned.Tracy BurgerWed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDThttp://www.farems.org:80/News-and-Opportunities/802/FAREMS-recognized-by-JCREC.htmlIn their 2011 Learning Session in Denver, CO this summer, the Joint Committee on Rural Emergency Care (JCREC) recognized FAREMS for its collaborative leadership to improve rural emergency care. This Committee was created by the National Association of State EMS Officials and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health and is dedicated to advancing policy and practice to ensure access to timely, affordable, and high quality emergency care services in rural America.Tracy BurgerTue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDThttp://www.farems.org:80/News-and-Opportunities/781/September-Meeting-Materials.htmlBelow are meeting materials for our 9 am General Meeting, Wednesday, September 28th at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Airport. Conference call-in number is: 1-888-772-8174; conference code is: 339-2807.Tracy BurgerMon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EDThttp://www.farems.org:80/News-and-Opportunities/668/Free-Pediatric-Training.htmlThe Florida EMSC Program and the Florida Neonatal and Pediatric Transport Network Association have partnered together to conduct FREE pediatric/neonatal training for prehospital and hospital professionals. The Florida EMSC education programs are designed to enhance pediatric/neonatal skill sets in the EMS community. If you are interested in hosting a FREE pediatric/neonatal educaitgon program at your agency/organization, please contact Melissa Keahey, EMSC Program Manager, at 850-245-4440 ext. 2686.Tracy BurgerThu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EDThttp://www.farems.org:80/News-and-Opportunities/610/Recruitment-and-Retention-Manual-Available.htmlThe FAREMS-produced manual R&R: Recruitment and Retention of EMS Professionals in Rural Florida is now available. This 29-page manual is a compendium of research and best practices directly from Florida's rural agencies as well as organizations around the country. Get tips on how to recruit and retain quality EMS professionals for your agency. Become an agency member and get your manual free, or purchase a copy for $25. Click the link below to read the President's Message.Tracy BurgerSun, 15 May 2011 00:00:00 EDT