A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P, Editor-in-Chief, JEMS , 2009 Nov 9, A.J. Heightman, ,

The EMS industry is full of innovators, the unsung heroes who spend countless hours developing new programs, implementing new, innovative projects, often at the great expense to themselves or their family. To...

A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P, 2009 Nov 1, A.J. Heightman,

Dick Ferneau and El Bourgraf were not only partners in the stretcher manufacturing business—they were also best friends. This combination of a work partnership and friendship kept the two innovating around...

A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P, 2009 Oct 1, A.J. Heightman,

My son is a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer welltrained in accident investigation. He’s better trained than me (and most EMS and fire responders) at controlling, stopping and diverting traffic...

Paul E. Pepe, MD, MPH & A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P, 2009 Oct 1

In the early years of EMS, the only advanced assessment and clinical items crews used were BP cuffs, three-lead ECG units, manual defibrillation and, in some systems, rotating tourniquets for congestive...

A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P, 2009 Sept 28, A.J. Heightman

The International Association of Emergency Medical Services Chiefs (IAEMSC) held its Inaugural Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., Sept 26–28, 2009. IAEMSC's mission is advocate for improved EMS and...

A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P, 2009 Sept 27, A.J. Heightman

The new series Trauma premiering Monday night is being billed by NBC as "the first high-octane medical drama series to live exclusively in the field." The show's Website says it's "like an adrenaline shot...

A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P, 2009 Sept 1, A.J. Heightman,

This month marks the fifth anniversary of the death of James O. Page, JEMS founding publisher and the "father of EMS." Jim died suddenly on Sept. 4, 2004, leaving a big hole in many hearts in the emergency...

A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P, 2009 Sept 1

In a July JEMS.com article, "Danger in the Back of the Ambulance," Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Medical Director David Slattery, MD, notes that many factors and practices increase the risk of injury and death...

A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P, JEMS Editor-in-Chief, 2009 Aug 17, A.J. Heightman

Alan Craig opened his session at the Pinnacle 2009 EMS Leadership & Management Conference by admitting that he's always been a supporter of ALS and originally endorsed having ALS respond on all calls....

A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P, JEMS Editor-in-Chief, 2009 Aug 17, A.J. Heightman

Terming it "a wake-up call for EMS," Mark Van Arnam, president/CEO of American Emergency Vehicles, told the audience of EMS managers attending a special ambulance chassis update session at the 2009 Pinnacle...