All articles tagged with #paramedics
BBC follows paramedics Sophie and Lee on a 10-hour shift in Somerset during a record heatwave, showing how rising demand and hot weather strain the NHS: Swast handled thousands of calls on a peak day (about 4,350 incidents and 5,200 999 calls) and the shift included a mix of false alarms, routine transfers and non‑emergency assessments, illustrating how life‑and‑death emergencies are only part of a broader urgent‑care role today.
Randolph Mantooth, best known for playing firefighter-paramedic Johnny Gage on the 1970s series Emergency!, died at 80 in a Ventura hospice after a cancer diagnosis in 2015. The California-born actor remained close to his Emergency! co-stars, helped honor frontline responders, and worked on a documentary about their experiences; his career also spanned soaps and guest roles on classic TV. He is survived by his wife Kristen and his siblings, Donald and Tonya.
Randolph Mantooth, the actor who played firefighter-paramedic Johnny Gage on NBC’s Emergency!, died at 80 in a Ventura hospice after years of illness, his brother said. The 1970s series (six seasons and telefilms) and Mantooth’s pairing with Kevin Tighe helped popularize paramedics and EMS across the U.S.; he later appeared on soaps like Loving and General Hospital and was named an honorary fire chief by the L.A. County Fire Department, frequently speaking about the debt he owed to emergency responders.
Paramedics were dispatched to a known address linked to Sen. Mitch McConnell on the day his office announced he had been hospitalized, to respond to a report of a cardiac arrest for an unconscious person. McConnell’s office has not disclosed the reason for his hospitalization, stating only that he is receiving excellent care and is continuing his recovery; there has been no public update on whether he remains hospitalized or will vote this week.
The Colorado Court of Appeals threw out the criminally negligent homicide convictions of two Aurora paramedics connected to Elijah McClain’s 2019 death, sending the cases back to district court for possible retrial after finding jurors were misled about the standard of care; the assault conviction against one of the paramedics remains upheld, and because the pair were tried together, the reversal applies to both.
Colorado's Court of Appeals reversed the homicide convictions of two Aurora paramedics in Elijah McClain's 2019 death, ordering new trials on the criminally negligent homicide charge after faulting juror instructions; one paramedic's assault conviction stands, and the state plans to appeal.
A Colorado appeals court reversed the homicide convictions of two paramedics who injected ketamine into Elijah McClain in 2019, and ordered new trials as the high-profile case continues in Aurora.
The Colorado Court of Appeals reversed the homicide convictions of two former Aurora paramedics in Elijah McClain’s 2019 death, ruling the trial court misapplied the standard of care by instructing jurors to rely on generic meanings rather than a professional standard under the circumstances. The decision means new trials for Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec, who were convicted of criminally negligent homicide (Cooper also for second‑degree assault) and were sentenced to probation. The ruling emphasizes the need for jurors to apply a professional standard of care rather than a generic “reasonable person” standard in such cases.
A Delta flight from Atlanta to Portland delivered a healthy baby girl (Brielle Renee Blair, about 5½ pounds) just before landing in Portland, with two on-board paramedics assisting the birth after labor began mid-flight. The mother, Ashley Blair, was en route to be with her own mother; after landing, mother and baby were transported to a local hospital for observation. Delta thanked on-board volunteers, though reports differ on whether a doctor or nurses assisted.
Tyka Nelson, sister of the late musician Prince, had multiple health issues leading to frequent paramedic visits before her death on November 4. Emergency services were called to her home at least six times since September, dealing with heart problems and other health complications. Despite her health struggles, the official cause of death has not been released. Tyka, who was 64, had her own music career and is remembered for accepting an award on behalf of Prince in 2016.
A car traveling on the northbound side of Interstate 95 in Massachusetts rolled across the median and multiple lanes, narrowly avoiding a collision with an ambulance transporting a patient during a nor'easter. The paramedic driving the ambulance, Tim Crosbie, was able to steer clear of the car, preventing potential injuries to himself, his partner, and the patient. The 17-year-old driver of the car was not seriously injured.
A six-year-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, and the paramedics trying to save her were killed by Israeli tanks in Gaza City. Hind had called for help as the lone survivor of an attack, but the area was an active combat zone, and despite prior coordination, the ambulance was targeted and destroyed. The girl's mother is calling for accountability, while Israel has not released an official statement. The incident has raised accusations and concerns about the targeting of civilians and medical personnel in the conflict.
Six-year-old Hind Rajab made a desperate phone call from her family car in Gaza after her relatives were killed, pleading for help as she was trapped with the dead bodies of six family members. The child's family had attempted to flee after the Israeli military ordered an evacuation, but their car came under fire. Despite efforts by the Palestinian Red Crescent to rescue her, Hind and the paramedics who tried to save her are still missing. The organization has called for international pressure on the IDF to account for what happened.
Paramedics from a private ambulance company in Milwaukee did not leave their vehicle to search for a woman who called 911 after falling and hitting her head, ultimately dying of hypothermia. The CEO defended their actions, stating they responded to a low priority call and couldn't locate the woman. The incident has sparked controversy and raised questions about the EMS system's response and prioritization of calls.
The trial of two Colorado paramedics charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of Elijah McClain could have far-reaching implications for paramedics nationwide, as they are rarely held accountable for deaths that occur while treating patients. The case is unprecedented, as it is rare for emergency medical technicians to face any consequences for their actions on the job. The paramedics diagnosed McClain with "excited delirium" and administered a large dose of ketamine before he suffered a heart attack and died. The trial could lead to a chilling effect, making paramedics more cautious about arriving at scenes where law enforcement is present.