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June 26, 2018Read more...

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 reversal...

June 18, 2018Read more...

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 contact...

June 15, 2018Read more...
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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 11, 2018Read more...

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 protocols...

May 31, 2018Read more...

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 monitored...

May 31, 2018Read more...

Ebola Outbreak May 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 monitored by WHO, CDC & other international...

May 26, 2018Read more...

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 32...

May 25, 2018Read more...

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 this...

May 18, 2018Read more...

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 this...

May 16, 2018Read more...

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 California. ...

May 11, 2018Read more...

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 cases...

May 9, 2018Read more...

E. Coli O157:H7 in Lettuce Update as of May 9, 2018

IN THE NEWS E. Coli O157:H7 in Lettuce Update as of May 9, 2018 Updated Information: The last update from the CDC on the E. Coli contamination of Romaine Lettuce was posted on 5/9/18 and contained an update of cases and states reported through 5/8/18. To date, there are 149 cases of E Coli O157:H7 in 29 states. Of the 129 cases with known information, there have been 64 hospitalizations (50%), 17 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and one (1) death in California. ...

May 8, 2018Read more...

Novel Viruses

Typically, pandemics are caused by novel viruses or variant strains of known viruses since few, if any, people have been exposed or developed antibodies to the virus. Since there is little resistance, many people often get sick. Depending on the virulence (the ability to make a person sick and the severity of that illness), many people may have serious complications or die from their illness. Download the complete document here

May 8, 2018Read more...

DHS Information for First Responders on Maintaining Operational Capabilities during a Pandemic

Executive Summary First responders have a critical role in prehospital emergency care and must continue to provide this essential service and fill the many emergency response roles in a community. The first responder community includes: fire, emergency medical services, law enforcement, emergency management, and 9-1-1 telecommunications. During a severe pandemic, workloads will increase and staff sizes will diminish as employees and their families become ill. Contingency planning now can help reduce the worst impacts: smart planning can save lives. To help with...

May 8, 2018Read more...

CDC Interim Pre-pandemic Planning Guidance: Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation in the United States

Purpose This document provides interim planning guidance for State, territorial, tribal, and local communities that focuses on several measures other than vaccination and drug treatment that might be useful during an influenza pandemic to reduce its harm. Communities, individuals and families, employers, schools, and other organizations will be asked to plan for the use of these interventions to help limit the spread of a pandemic, prevent disease and death, lessen the impact on the economy, and keep society functioning. This interim...

May 4, 2018Read more...

Influenza Update Week Ending 4-28-2018

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week #17 Week Ending 4-28-18 Continued good news about Flu but two indicators still haven’t shown any sign of abating.  Specifically, the rate of hospitalizations from flu continues to increase and there are still a number of pediatric deaths for the week.  But, for the fourth time in-a-row since this Flu season became active, influenza activity (ILI) was below the national baseline and the number of flu cases once again decreased. A quick glance at the graphs for...

May 3, 2018Read more...

E. Coli O157:H7 in Lettuce Update as of May 1, 2018 – 2nd Update

IN THE NEWS E. Coli O157:H7 in Lettuce Update as of May 1, 2018 Updated Information: The last update from the CDC on the E. Coli contamination of Romaine Lettuce was 5/2/18 and contained an update of cases and states. To date, there are 121 cases of E Coli O157:H7 in 25 states.  Of the 102 cases with known information, there have been 52 hospitalizations (51%), 14 cases (13.7%) of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and one (1) death in California.  Reported illnesses started between...

May 1, 2018Read more...

E. Coli O157:H7 in Lettuce Update as of May 1, 2018

IN THE NEWS E. Coli O157:H7 in Lettuce Update as of May 1, 2018 The last update from the CDC on the E. Coli contamination of Romaine Lettuce was 4/28/18 and contained an update of cases and states, as well as important info related to avoiding risk of infection to contaminated lettuce. To date, there are 98 cases of E Coli O157:H7 in 22 states with 46 hospitalizations,10 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and no deaths.  Since there is a 2-3-week lag...