Can 911 Respond to Mental Health Crises?
Up to 15% of calls to 911 involve people having a mental health breakdown, yet many call centers, especially in rural areas, have no one with any training on what to do or who to dispatch in those cases.
Brain Aneurysm Through the Eyes of a Survivor
Brain aneurysms—bulging in a brain blood vessel, like an inflated balloon—affect 1 in 50 people and are generally without symptoms until they burst. This occurs in about 30,000 people per year in the US, accounting for 3-5 percent of all new strokes. Here is the story of one survivor in her own words.
Medical Notes: Week of October 13, 2019
When you call 9-1-1 for an ambulance, paramedics are supposed to take you to the closest hospital. But a new study shows that doesn’t happen about 40 percent of the time. Then, Flu season is rapidly approaching again. And finally… A study finds that if you want to live longer, take a nap.
Adventures of a Paramedic
We talk with a former paramedic who describes the "inside story" of being a first responders--explaining the dangers and rewards of the job.
