On February 4, 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a joint Public Health Advisory with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for all aluminum oxygen regulators.  This is the third Public Health Advisory after similiar ones issued in May and August of 1998.  The first two advisories centered on Allied Healthcare Products of St. Louis and their Life Support Products brand model "270."     Allied Healthcare manufactures 60 percent of the oxygen regulators sold. 

At issue is regulators (possibly becoming contaminated with hydrocarbons) that, in the presence of high pressure oxygen, could undergo spontaneous combustion, causing an explosion and serious burns.  In the past four years, there has been sixteen explosions in which eleven people have been seriously burned.

This time, the advisory is for aluminum regulators from ANY manufacturer being in contact with high pressure oxygen.   The advisory recommends ultimately that all aluminum regulators be replaced with brass regulators.  In the interim, the advisory recommends the internal components of aluminum regulators be replaced with brass components.

An estimated 200,000 oxygen regulators are in use.

In the last column, I wrote of the extensive investigation on American Medical Response (AMR) conducted by the Hartford Courant.   The stories centered on how financial pressures on AMR have played a contributing role in longer response times and an unavailability of ambulances for 911 calls in some Connecticut cities.  The Hartford Courant showed how ambulance response times had worsened and EMS- related negligence complaints had risen in recent years.

The stories also showed how, during that time, AMR had eliminated much of the competition and now controls two-thirds of the commercial ambulance service in the state.

Now State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin Sullivan has called for an investigation saying that reports of worsening response times and regulatory lapses pose " an emergency" that requires immediate action.

In other action, amid accusations that he had dangerously underminded regulation of ambulance service and abused his authority, Public Health Commissioner Stephen A. Harriman withdrew his nomination for another term. Harriman's withdrawl came about an hour after a legislative committee recommended that the Senate reject his confirmation. 

Other allegations against Harriman included using his hand-picked hearing officer, Ann Moore, to sit in judgement of an AMR paramedic accused by regulators of fatally mishandling a heart attack as an asthma attack.  Moore has proposed dismissing the charges against the paramedic.  Two weeks after the hearing, Harriman, Moore and a top AMR executive each wrote checks to Governor John Rowland's re-election committee, according to campaign finance records.    After Moore ruled in favor of the paramedic, the daughter of the deceased patient wrote a letter alledging "Ann Moore had her own agenda. Despite the fact that AMR is a major company with tremendous ties to the state government and also a major campaign contributor, it was our belief that all of the testimony would be considered impartially."  The daughter closed by writing, "That did not happen."

Congratulations to Battalion Chief Ron Blaul of Orange County (CA).   Ron has been elected as chair of the State EMS Commission.  This is first time since the Commission's formation in the early 1980s that a non-physician has been appointed to the chair position.

Nominations are being accepted for the EMS Section's annual James O. Page Award.   The award is presented annually to an individual who has played a key role in creating or promoting non-clinical innovation and achievements in fire service EMS management and leadership that have a positive impact nationally. For details or questions on nominating an individual, contact Section Treasurer Dave Becker at 314/514-0900.

The James O. Page Award will be presented at Fire-Rescue Med in Las Vegas.  I talked to Karl Flippinger, Conference Coordinator for the IAFC, tells me the numbers on registration and inquiries to Fire-Rescue Med at this point have been fantastic - running far ahead of last year.   For a conference brochure or to register, contact the IAFC at 703-273-0911.   We hope to see you in Vegas.