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Medical personnel serving victims of the conflict in Gaza are dealing with a logistical nightmare in caring for thousands reportedly injured in the ongoing war zone. Because of the violence and terrorism checkpoints, Red Crescent paramedics report transport times of several hours.

On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas observed a three-hour pause in fighting to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid, and additional lulls will occur in the future, Israel said.

Read more about this world crisis at Ambulance Trip from Gaza a Harrowing Ride.

In the U.S this week, eight people were killed and a ninth was critically injured after a helicopter crash Sunday about 100 miles southwest of New Orleans.

The helicopter was operated by PHI, a primary service flying to oil and gas platforms along the coast of Louisiana. PHI also flies medical helicopters, and in June lost a medical chopper in a Texas crash that killed four: a pilot, paramedic, nurse and a patient who was being transported from Huntsville to Houston.

Read more at Eight Killed in Louisiana Helicopter Crash.

Following a new protocol, San Francisco's 911 Call Center has reduced the time it takes to process emergency medical calls and get responders on the scene.

In November 2007 dispatchers were instructed to immediately send help to callers reporting priority symptoms, while a previous policy required them to gather further information first.

Read more at San Francisco Reduces 911 Response Time.

Exclusive on EMSResponder.com:

EMS Equipment and Transport Vehicle Cleaning and Disinfection: Challenges & Best Practices

"Emergency medical systems teams are constantly faced with challenges of preventing infection transmission," writes author Jean Fleming.

"The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant microbes (e.g., healthcare-acquired and community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA], vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus [VRE] and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli), along with growing concern regarding the spread of Clostridia difficile bacteria are problems facing all healthcare providers.

Featured Column:

Good Samaritan Immunity Limited to Medical Assistance