Update on the Omicron Variant & Review of Mitigation Strategies for COVID-19
Omicron, the latest Variant of Concern, has become dominant in the U.S. and is gaining on the Delta Variant in Canada. This follows its sudden surge in dominance over other strains in many countries in Africa and in Europe and confirms its increased infectiousness in the U.S. This article includes an update on Omicron, mostly through the use of links to articles about its known and suspected traits, including differences from previous COVID-19 strains. Due to some of these differences,...
Intro to Seasonal Influenza (Flu) 101 for 2021-2022
This document serves as an introduction, or review, for topics related to Seasonal Flu and what can be anticipated in the 2021-22 Flu Season. It includes a description of Flu, prevention, at risk groups, flu shots, incubation, symptoms, testing & diagnosis, and more. It also has links to both CDC and Canada Health resources on many of the topics. View/Download Full Document
CDC Intro to Omicron & Review of COVID-19 Vaccinations & Boosters
The CDC EPIC (Emergency Partners Information Connection) Extra contains info on the new Variant of Concern – Omicron - and what can be done to protect against it. There is also information on the current recommendations on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. There are many links to more in-depth information on the topics. View/Download Full Document
EMS World – FirstWatch and Hello Driven Announce CAPCE Accreditation
CARLSBAD, CA—FirstWatch and Hello Driven announced November 30, 2021, the accreditation of their Driven Resilience Training by the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE). This will allow emergency medical services professionals to receive continuing education credits by using the app, which helps users develop resilience.
Webinar: Protecting family and relationship health
In this installment, our presenters tackle re-entry tips for connecting with family after a difficult shift, the neuroscience of stress management, and strategies for making relationships work during challenging times.
Webinar: The Emerging Science of Improved Health & Resilience for Fire & EMS
In this webinar, FirstWatch Improvement Guide and UCSF professor Mike Taigman will share his decades of experience and research into human wellness and longevity, providing attendees with concrete, science-based steps to improve your health and lengthen your life.
Paramedic Chiefs of Canada – Navigating Mandatory Vaccination Policies
This session will offer perspectives on what to know as you develop, implement and manage the many variables of legislations, health orders, collective agreements, policies, etc. on vaccination polices.
Using Your Data Outside of FirstWatch – Virtual User Training
Every once in a while you need to pull some data out of your FirstWatch system to do a quick analysis, create a chart for a report, or answer an urgent question. In this brief session FirstWatch President, Todd Stout, will show you several tricks to use, tips for getting exactly what you want, and traps to avoid for getting the data you need whenever you want.
Resilience Dialogues – November 12, 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.
FirstWatch IDV-Focused User Meeting
During this interactive session our Product Development team that created IDV shows you how you can use the new functions to slice, dice, display, and deeply analyze your data, faster and easier than ever before.
CDC HAN Advisory of Monkeypox in a US Citizen Traveler
A US Citizen traveled from Nigeria to Dallas, Texas via Atlanta on two different flights over two days. After a few days here, the individual visited a Dallas Emergency Room for a rash and was confirmed to have Monkeypox. Public Health Authorities are monitoring over 200 people in 27 states, who may have been exposed during the flights or in the airports. This article describes the details of the flights and what EMS needs to know to manage anyone who may...
PSC – RQI Partners and FirstWatch Combine Resuscitation Quality Improvement Solution, Analytics and Data to Help Save More Lives
RQI Partners, a partnership between and service provider for the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical, and FirstWatch, a technology company that uses improvement science to support public safety and healthcare organizations, launched today RQI®-T Analytics powered by FirstWatch. This new collaboration empowers emergency communication centers and 9-1-1 telecommunicators to optimize data to measure and improve T-CPR performance.
JEMS – Companies Combine Resuscitation Quality Improvement Solution, Analytics and Data to Save More Lives
RQI Partners, a partnership between and service provider for the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical, and FirstWatch, a technology company that uses improvement science to support public safety and healthcare organizations, launched RQI®-T Analytics powered by FirstWatch. This new collaboration empowers emergency communication centers and 911 telecommunicators to optimize data to measure and improve T-CPR performance.
RQI Partners and FirstWatch combine resuscitation quality improvement solution, analytics and data to help save more lives
RQI Partners, a partnership between and service provider for the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical, and FirstWatch, a technology company that uses improvement science to support public safety and healthcare organizations, launched today RQI®-T Analytics powered by FirstWatch. This new collaboration empowers emergency communication centers and 9-1-1 telecommunicators to optimize data to measure and improve T-CPR performance.
iPhone 12/Implanted Cardiac Devices Warning and Monkeypox in the UK
This article is a quick briefing on two topics. The first topic is very important for all First Responders, especially those performing any EMS functions, to be aware of and pre-plan management. The second topic is a reminder that not only COVID-19 can travel fast but it's also not the only virus that a country had to consider during a COVID surge. Instead of a separate list of Resources & Links, a few pertinent links are listed with each of the...
EMS World Podcast – Dispatch vs. Field Crews
EMS crews and those who dispatch them carry out two of the most high-intensity jobs around—it's only natural there will be moments of tension between the two. But small gestures, communication styles, and a sense of mutual respect go a long way toward keeping the working relationship as efficient and professional as possible. In this podcast Mike McCabe hosts Mike Taigman, Audrey Fraizer, and Jonathan Bassett, coauthors of the EMS World June 2021 cover story, "Partners in Stress."
Flipping OFF the Switch on HOT Emergency Medical Vehicle Responses! | July 7th
HOT (red light and siren) responses put EMS providers and the public at significant risk. Studies have demonstrated that the time saved during this mode of vehicle operation and that reducing HOT responses enhances safety of personnel, with little to no impact on patient outcomes. Some agencies have ‘dabbled’ with responding COLD (without lights and sirens) to some calls, but perhaps none as dramatic as Niagara Region EMS in Ontario, Canada – who successfully flipped their HOT responses to a...
COVID-19 Variants Update
COVID-19 Variants, particularly those named Variants of Concern, are increasingly posing a greater risk to countries throughout the world, including the US and Canada. Currently, the Delta Variant (aka B.1.617.2), which has rampaged India, has very rapidly become the dominant variant in the UK, replacing the previously dominant Alpha Variant (B.1.1.7). It is rapidly gaining the same ground in the US and some experts expect it to be dominant in the next month. This article discusses the Variants and looks specifically...
EMS World – Partners in Stress
FirstWatch, the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, and EMS World—set out to learn about the current state of dispatch and field crew relations. Authors: Mike Taigman, Audrey Fraizer, and Jonathan Bassett, MA, NREMT
