Planning volunteer responses to low-volume mass gatherings: do event characteristics predict patient workload?

Introduction: Workforce planning for first aid and medical coverage of mass gatherings is hampered by limited research. In particular, the characteristics and likely presentation patterns of low-volume mass gatherings of between several hundred to several thousand people are poorly described in the existing literature.

Objectives: This study was conducted to: 1.

Impact of advanced cardiac life support-skilled paramedics on survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a statewide emergency medical service.

Background: Prehospital research has found little evidence in support of advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, these studies generally examine city-based emergency medical services (EMS) systems. The training and experience of ACLS-skilled paramedics differs internationally, and this may also contribute to negative findings.

The internet and the global monitoring of emerging diseases: lessons from the first 10 years of ProMED-mail.

Now in its eleventh year, ProMED-mail is a robust and sensitive mechanism for the discovery of emerging disease outbreaks involving humans, animals, and plants around the world and for rapid dissemination of information. Fast reporting translates into quicker arrival of prevention and control assistance from other countries, better advance warning to neighboring countries and intending travelers, and other benefits to public health such as heightened awareness of health workers to the threat, time to prepare countermeasures and to react in an appropriate manner rather than a reflex emergency response.