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The Michigan Messenger going forward

By Staff Report | 11.16.11

I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]

Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11

An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.

Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11

Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.

Schuette fights important mercury regulations

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By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11

Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.

Detroit EMS is in trouble

By Minehaha Forman | 03.06.09 | 6:01 am

While scrolling though Detroit-centric posts out in the mad world of the blogosphere, I came across this piece on emergency medical services in Detroit. Having a close friend who is a firefighter, I had already gotten wind of Detroit’s dire EMS situation but had not done any legwork on the story.

I’m glad somebody did.

A blogger for DetroitSpeaks.com recounted the same information I’d heard from my friend about the problems EMS responders face while working in Detroit.

They noted that Detroit has 20 EMS vehicles serving the city, covering an area of 143 square miles and a population of 916,952 people according to the last census data. And we wonder at the pathetic response times in the city. But there’s more. According to this article, EMS are required to respond to other non-emergency situations:

What kind of calls do EMS have to make runs on?

Believe it or not, the calls they have to make runs on will shock you. Reports are that maybe 35-50% of the calls that come into 911 need Detroit EMS. The other calls are non-life threatening. There are many who abuse the 911 system for personal use. Examples such as ‘I ran out of medicine and didnt have a ride to the hospital’, ‘I have a headache and I couldn’t get a cab so I called 911’ …”

Anyway, since it’s mayoral election season and all, this is a perfect chance to find out where the mayoral candidates stand on EMS services. I’ll be asking Bing’s and Cockrel’s people if they have any plans to address this situation.

Comments

  • bwalker

    After three generations of telling every school kid to “Call 911″ why are people so regularly surprised when people do just that? I hear complaints about the “abuse” of 911 constantly – usually from people who find their jobs complicated by having to deal with the “public” which is exactly what “we” are paying “them” to do. Silly rabbits.

    • elizabethparker

      Hmmm…. Perhaps your schools were different growing up. I was always told as a child in case of an EMERGANCY to call 911. I dont think runny nose, splinter, headache, teething, periods, or so on are true EMERGANCIES. But not complicated at all I smile as I take everyone of them to the hospital and even calmly take those who are yelling WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG when I get to them after. 911 is for the most part a first call first serve business I rush cross the city lights and sirens putting self and others in harms way getting to the toothache or headache becuase they call it in as a possible stroke just like I rush all the way back across to get the child shot playing in their yard in a drive-by but yes we are silly rabbits for thinking all should have a single drop of common sense. And yes it is an abuse of the system when asked if they had tried going to the urgent care or even had a family member drive them they say “But this is FREE” ……

  • bwalker

    After three generations of telling every school kid to “Call 911″ why are people so regularly surprised when people do just that? I hear complaints about the “abuse” of 911 constantly – usually from people who find their jobs complicated by having to deal with the “public” which is exactly what “we” are paying “them” to do. Silly rabbits.

  • elizabethparker

    Hmmm…. Perhaps your schools were different growing up. I was always told as a child in case of an EMERGANCY to call 911. I dont think runny nose, splinter, headache, teething, periods, or so on are true EMERGANCIES. But not complicated at all I smile as I take everyone of them to the hospital and even calmly take those who are yelling WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG when I get to them after. 911 is for the most part a first call first serve business I rush cross the city lights and sirens putting self and others in harms way getting to the toothache or headache becuase they call it in as a possible stroke just like I rush all the way back across to get the child shot playing in their yard in a drive-by but yes we are silly rabbits for thinking all should have a single drop of common sense. And yes it is an abuse of the system when asked if they had tried going to the urgent care or even had a family member drive them they say “But this is FREE” ……

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