Latest news with #EMSA
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
EMSA releases first heat alert of 2025 for OKC
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – It's getting warmer outside as the summer months roll around. It got hot enough over the past weekend for EMSA to issue their first heat alert of the year for Oklahoma City Monday morning. EMSA is now urging caution to people spending long amounts of time outside as future rain can cause even more humidity later on. 'It is time to be prepared,' EMSA paramedic Tori Thompson said. 'Prepared' is the key word with the newest heat alert. 'Let's be proactive and not reactive,' Thompson said. EMSA crews responded to 7 heat related illness calls on Sunday alone. Three of those patients went to the hospital. Those numbers don't include what Thompson said she's seen at the Women's College World Series. 'I've been out there the last few days and we have had an extreme number of heat related illnesses out there,' Thompson said. 'The humidity is really taking a toll.' To keep yourself right side up and out of one of EMSA's gurney's, hydration should be a number one priority. 'Let's start hydrating days before we know we're going to be outside for an extended amount of time,' Thompson said. Guthrie Job Corps closing its doors due to federal budget cuts While outside, take breaks consistently, remember to wear light colored and loose fitting clothing and make sure you can find shade when you need it. If you have to, bring blankets to create that shade and don't forget to wear sunscreen. 'Don't leave anyone in a hot vehicle,' Thompson said. 'Make sure your pets have water. Don't leave them out for extended amount of time. That affects them just as it does us.' According to Thompson, this is about the time of year they normally send their first alert out. It may take some time to get acclimated, but if you prepare properly it can save your life. Don't drink too much alcohol or caffiene either. Now is also a good time to consistently check in on elderly neighbors to make sure they're doing OK. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
One injured, suspect still at large following Monday afternoon shooting in Midwest City
MIDWEST CITY — Police are still searching for a suspect following a shooting near Northeast 10 Street and Air Depot Boulevard in Midwest City, according to reports from News 9 and KOCO. Both stations reported that police responded to a shooting that injured one man on Monday, May 26. The Oklahoman reached out to the Midwest City Police Department to verify details and obtain updated information about the incident, but had not received a response at the time of publication. KOCO reported that a fight occurred at the location earlier in the day, and a person involved in that fight returned with a gun and shot someone in the arm before fleeing the scene, according to Midwest City Police. According to News 9, Midwest City Police cited a "disturbance," but could not give an more details on what led to the shooting. The injured man initially left the scene before being stopped by police, then EMSA took him to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to News 9 reports. At this time, there is no description of the suspect and they are still at large, according to KOCO and News 9. The shooting comes just three days after 21-year-old Ethan Buycks was killed in a shooting at a high school graduation party on a street just a few blocks away in Midwest City. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Police searching for suspect in Midwest City shooting that injured one
Jordan Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Transport Ministry, EMSA discuss national maritime strategy development
Minister of Transport Wissam Tahtamouni on Monday meets with European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) experts Fabrizio Perelli and Norm Erik (Petra photo) AMMAN — Minister of Transport Wissam Tahtamouni on Monday met with European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) experts Fabrizio Perelli and Norm Erik to discuss the development of a national maritime strategy and ways to enhance Jordan's maritime sector. During the meeting, which was also attended by Jordan Maritime Commission (JMC) Director General Omar Dabbas, Tahtamouni highlighted the sector's growing significance, describing it as a vital pillar of the national economy and a key link connecting Jordan to global markets. She emphasised Jordan's strong partnership with the European Union and commended EMSA's ongoing technical support in developing the Kingdom's maritime transport sector, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. "The visit of EMSA experts presents an important opportunity to exchange expertise and align efforts to implement international best practices," the minister said, reaffirming Jordan's commitment to international maritime agreements and the adoption of updated policies for the safe handling of dangerous goods. The discussions focused on viable policy options within the framework of the upcoming national maritime strategy and the broader objectives the government seeks to achieve. The participants stressed the importance of technical cooperation in formulating a sustainable, forward-looking strategy. Perelli described the partnership between EMSA, the Ministry of Transport, and the JMC as a "constructive model" for advancing maritime safety in the region. He noted that the presence of EMSA experts in Jordan is aimed at supporting the development of a strategy that meets international standards and serves both national and regional interests. He also highlighted the importance of SAFEMED V, an EU-funded project supporting Mediterranean countries in implementing International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations and improving maritime safety standards. Erik commended the Ministry of Transport and its partners for their coordination efforts, stressing the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the success of the strategy. He added that the EMSA team would hold field meetings in Aqaba to discuss implementation plans and address technical issues on the ground.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A new program is tackling mental health 911 calls in OKC. What is Mobile Integrated Health?
A new program providing an alternative response to mental health-related 911 calls has been officially launched in Oklahoma City. Mobile Integrated Healthcare — an Oklahoma City Fire Department program developed through the city's Public Safety Partnership — is meant to divert mental health emergency calls away from police and toward trained behavioral health professionals who can better address the caller's needs. As Assistant City Manager Jason Ferbrache puts it, not every emergency call needs a police response. Recent demands for police reform have compelled law enforcement to reexamine how certain emergencies might be better addressed by mental health workers, freeing police to instead focus on other problems and serious crimes. 'There are calls that come in that really are specifically behavioral health in nature, and so as a city, we now have the staff to respond, especially in that area, to help folks who are experiencing behavioral issues,' said Ferbrache, who oversees the city's police and fire departments and law enforcement policy implementation. 'The other plus side to that is, if we have staff dedicated to responding to 911 calls involving behavioral health, that adds capacity to our other first responders, police, fire and EMSA, that can deal with those life-threatening emergencies — so it's really a twofold approach.' Related: Oklahoma City demonstrates progress for mental health services in new report Mobile Integrated Healthcare, which has been in development since last year, is a response to 39 recommendations on eight topics made to Oklahoma City officials in 2022. The recommendations — a result of the work of the mayor's Law Enforcement Policy Task Force, the Community Policing Working Group and the city-hired consultant 21CP Solutions — ranged from prioritizing de-escalation, improving officer wellness and exploring alternative responses to mental health calls. Demands for an alternative public safety response to behavioral health issues grew out of increased calls for police reform in Oklahoma City, which heightened after local and nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in 2020. For the past two years, the city's Public Safety Partnership has involved community stakeholders, city officials and law enforcement collaborating on how to enact the recommended reforms. Andrea Grayson, the Public Safety Partnership's implementation manager, said Mobile Integrated Healthcare expands two programs that had been in place at the fire department: the Overdose Response Team formed in 2023 and the Community Advocacy Program begun in 2019. More: What is OKC's plan for reform following DOJ inquiry into mental health emergency calls? 'There was also a specific recommendation that we determine existing community resources and capacity for an alternative response model in the community,' Grayson said. 'And in doing the research, we made the determination to keep that in-house and to build and launch Mobile Integrated Health. It was really just a natural progression and an organic development, because the fire department already had those health programs that were already set up, and it just made sense.' The city started staffing Mobile Integrated Healthcare in late 2024 with a 27-member team, including a program manager, clinicians, paramedics, response navigators and peer recovery support specialists. The city also purchased vans specially fitted to serve residents experiencing mental health crises. There are four subteams that make up Mobile Integrated Healthcare, which include: The Crisis Call Diversion Team embedded at the 911 Call Center, helping to provide de-escalation, stabilization and support for callers in need of mental health service; The Crisis Response Team, responding to mental health emergencies where a person might be showing signs of being a risk to themselves or others; The Alternative Response Team that continues working overdose responses, as well as less-severe behavioral and mental health calls; and The Community Advocacy Program, which helps individuals who frequently call 911 for nonemergency needs get connected to community resources that can better serve them. Related: A look at the effort to expand mental health workers' role in policing The teams were recognized during a May 6 ceremony officially launching Mobile Integrated Healthcare at Oklahoma City Fire Department Station No. 1, 820 NW Fifth St. 'We're about public services, we're about meeting the needs of our community, but what we most importantly have is stepping into space and putting the right people in the right place,' said Oklahoma City Fire Chief Richard Kelley. 'And what I'm really proud of is this being a behavioral health forward program that really has excellent people that are first class. They're experts in their area that are passionate about serving others.' Lori Brown-Loftis, who became program manager in September, has worked in the mental health field for 16 years. She said the Mobile Health team members have been working in a 'soft launch' capacity since January, trying to become accustomed to working with the different resources in different settings with limited hours, and was excited to see the program officially launch. Mobile Integrated Healthcare now operates from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The program manager said there are plans to extend operating hours in the future. 'I feel like being able to provide mental health treatment in a trauma-informed way in the community, helping people stay in the least restrictive environment — I'm incredibly passionate about that,' Brown-Loftis said. 'It's been such an incredible and exciting thing to be a part of something brand new in Oklahoma City. It's so needed, and I'm just glad to be a part of it, honestly, and to help sort of shape how Oklahoma City is responding to people who are struggling with mental health.' More: OKCPD sees decrease in mental health calls directed to police, partly due to 988 success The program also was developed with guidance from the city's Crisis Intervention Advisory Group, a committee of mental and behavioral health experts, social service providers, clinicians, academics and community advocates who were brought in to help ensure best practices are being followed. Jessica Hawkins, director of community initiatives at the nonprofit Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, is the lead facilitator for the Crisis Intervention Advisory Group. She said the committee meets regularly to be briefed on the progress of the mobile health teams, who have already had 'an incredible impact' responding to hundreds of calls in the past few months. 'This allows for an opportunity to keep law enforcement in the field doing what they do in the space of public safety,' Hawkins said. 'They've already realized quite a bit of time and cost savings, I know, by not having to dispatch police into situations where they're not the best responder, and this is just going to continue to go up and up and be a big win for the city and the residents.' Hawkins also said it was refreshing to see Oklahoma City leadership investing real time, money and effort into finding solutions for behavioral and mental health issues. She has long advocated for establishing protective factors that can prevent harmful problems from happening to residents in the first place. 'Life happens, and people have circumstances mostly out of their control that lead them into a situation of distress,' Hawkins said, 'and if we can intervene appropriately as early as possible, with the best possible care applied to what's happening for that person, we can prevent these events from happening ever again.' This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Mobile Integrated Healthcare responding to mental health calls in OKC
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Details emerge on San Jose Fire Department captain's drug history
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — A veteran San Jose Fire Department captain is suspected of stealing drugs from as many as 17 fire stations, city officials said. Fire Captain Mark Moalem was arrested by police detectives last week following an SJFD audit of controlled substances stored in its stations. 'Lives depend on our firefighters' ability to administer medical care during emergencies. We take theft of controlled substances extremely seriously,' said Mayor Matt Mahan. Moalem was arrested on suspicion of burglary, child endangerment, and narcotics violations. His last day working was on April 15, city officials said. Mahan said, 'I'm grateful to our City Manager and Police Chief for acting quickly and decisively by opening an investigation and holding those responsible accountable. I'll continue monitoring the situation and look forward to procedural changes that ensure this never happens again.' According to records obtained by KRON4, the San Jose Fire Department was well aware of Moalem's prior history with drug addiction. Records from the California Emergency Medical Services Authority state that Moalem was on duty working as a firefighter for SJFP when he was found unconscious inside a bathroom. An empty syringe and vial were next to him. The incident happened on November 22, 2013 and the vial contained morphine. After Moalem was rushed to a hospital, he told police that he was addicted to opiates, according to EMSA's report. Moalem said his drug problem stemmed from a work-related lower back injury. In 2012, a doctor gave the fire captain a prescription for OxyContin, an addictive opiate used by some doctors for patients with severe pain. That summer, 'he was in full-blown addiction,' and fire department officials were aware of his struggles, EMSA's report states. The fire captain spent a month in detox before he returned to duty with SJFD in September 2012. By the end of 2012, Moalem went on disability leave, however, his drug use 'escalated,' the report states. When he returned to work in 2013 and attempted to stop using morphine recreationally, he suffered from withdrawal symptoms, the report writes. A supervisor noticed that the fire captain was 'not acting right,' EMSA investigators wrote. Moalem told state investigators that when he went to work on November 22, 2013, he decided to inject himself with morphine to make his withdrawal symptoms subside. After he was found passed out in a bathroom, Moalem went to a hospital and completed a rehab program. A year later, Moalem returned to duty with the fire department. In 2015, an interim fire chief testified that Moalem was an excellent and highly skilled paramedic who remained calm under pressure. At the time, he had no record of stealing drugs while on the job, EMSA's report states. Several members of SJDF also testified that Moalem was a trustworthy, responsible, and dependable firefighter. San Jose Fire Department spokesperson Hannah Denys told KRON4 Wednesday, 'In 2013, Captain Moalem was the subject of drug related charges. Captain Moalem was required to submit to random drug testing over several years and, additionally, had his paramedic license revoked by the California Emergency Medical Services Agency after their own investigation was conducted. The action to revoke the paramedic license was stayed pursuant to completion of several conditions during a five-year probation.' The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office has not yet filed charges against Moalem in connection to his April 2025 arrest. Following last week's arrest, City Manager Jennifer Maguire said, 'I will not tolerate criminal behavior. The allegations are deeply concerning and represent a serious breach of public trust. I want to be unequivocal: any conduct that endangers community safety or undermines the integrity of our public institution will be addressed with the utmost seriousness.' The fire captain is currently out of custody, according to jail inmate records. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
