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Bill targets spitting or throwing bodily fluids on medical personnel
April 5, 2010
The Assembly Criminal Justice Committee held a public hearing on March 18 on a bill that would make it easier to prosecute people who threw bodily substances at EMS and other public safety personnel.

Under current law, prosecutors can charge people throw blood or other bodily substances or spit at public safety personnel with a Class I felony. But prosecutors must prove that the person intended that the bodily substances come in contact with the public safety worker and that the person intended to cause bodily harm. County prosecutors often have a hard time securing a conviction because that later element is difficult to prove in court.

Assembly Bill 775 changes the law and makes it unnecessary to prove the person intended to cause harm. The bill would apply to an emergency medical technician, a first responder, a law enforcement officer, a fire fighter, or a person operating or staffing an ambulance. A companion bill, Senate Bill 334, is working its way through the Senate.

Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department National Accreditation
April 5, 2010
Congratulations to the Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department. They became the first ambulance service in the State of Wisconsin to achieve national accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). There are approximately 141 ambulance services of the over 8,000 listed agencies around the country to achieve this distinction. The WRFD has been working toward this accreditation for approximately four years. Sarah McEntee, Executive Director of CAAS, commented that the work done by Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department was an impressive accomplishment.

Volunteer Job Protection Bill Passes in Assembly
February 24, 2010
The Volunteer Job Protection Bill passed in the Wisconsin State Assembly on Feb. 23, sending the bill to Gov. Jim Doyle for final action. The vote was 92-3. The bill would protect volunteer firefighters, EMTs, first responders, ambulance drivers and certain other volunteers who are late to work or absent from work because they were responding to an emergency. The bill exempts employees providing direct patient care at hospital intensive care units or emergency departments. Employers would not be required to provide pay for the time an employee is absent. The bill passed in the Senate by a voice vote on January 19.

GREAT BENEFITS FOR WISCONSIN EMS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS!

Check out all of the Wisconsin EMS Association merchandise available for sale. You'll find all sorts of items to help identify you as a Wisconsin EMS provider and WEMSA member. Use your credit card to purchase on-line or mail in your order. Check it out.

EMS Cruise Sails To Alaska August 3-10, 2010



It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to sail to Alaska with hundreds of EMS providers, family and friends. Reservations are now being taken for the 6th EMS Cruise. It only takes a $25 deposit to hold your cabin.

March-April EMS Professionals