Friday, July 30, 2010

Medical Billing & Coding Jobs on the Rise








The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs for medical billing and coding will continue grow with the rest of the healthcare field, and will pay very well.

Education is key to securing one of these prestigious jobs. Online continuing education providers, such as Kaplan Continuing Education, offer medical billing and coding certificates which can prepare you for a career in the field.

Different Types of Careers for Pharmacy Technicians

The number of jobs for pharmacy technicians is expected to double or even triple in the coming years. There are many different settings in which a pharmacy tech can work, including drug stores, health clinics, hospitals and laboratories.

Pharmacy techs that work in local drug stores or health clinics are referred to as community pharmacy technicians, those who work in hospitals are known as hospital pharmacy technicians, and those who work in laboratories are called pharmaceutical industry pharmacy technicians.

Friday, July 23, 2010

2009 Saw Lowest On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities Since 1993

According to a report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) there were 82 on-duty firefighter fatalities in 2009, the lowest total since 1993. Of the 82 fatalities, 41 were volunteer firefighters and 31 were career firefighters.

NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg was quoted saying, “I am pleased that the number of firefighter fatalities in the United States went down in 2009. I hope and pray that it will continue to decrease because even one line-of-duty firefighter death is too many.”

The leading cause of death among on-duty firefighters continues to be sudden cardiac arrest, accounting for approximately 40% of the fatalities.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

CPF Firevision Video: Terrorism Consequence Management

The following video is the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) online news update documenting the terrorism consequence management training scenarios which are part of the California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee’s online terrorism response training program.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Sign Up for the National Junior Firefighter Academy

Attention Junior Firefighters! If you are between the ages of 13-18 you can have the opportunity to meet firefighters actively in the service and see products, services and technologies used to keep our cities safe on Saturday, July 24th from 9:00 AM - noon. The Junior Firefighter Educational Session will be held at the Firehouse Expo and is limited to 75 students at a cost of only $10 per person ($15 after July 18th).

Firehouse Expo is also looking for 50 program advisors for the educational session. Information about Jr. Firefighter and Program Advisor Registration can be found on the Firehouse Expo website.

Don’t forget to stop by the Kaplan Continuing Education booth #2104 while you are at the Firehouse Expo! Kaplan team members Jim Redgate and Rhianna Dallaire will be on site.

National Pet Fire Safety Day is July 15

An estimated 500,000 pets are affected annually by house fires. In addition, nearly 1,000 home fires are accidentally started by pets. In honor of National Pet Fire Safety Day on July 15, here are a few tips to keep your pets safe in the event of a fire and prevent your pets from accidentally starting a fire in your home.

To Prevent Your Pet From Starting Fires:
  • Extinguish open flames – Pets are curious about candles and other flames and may knock them over while trying to investigate.
  • Remove stove knobs – Stoves are the most common way a pet can start a fire.
  • Invest in flameless candles – These create the illusion of a flame without causing danger if the pet knocks it over.
  • Beware of water bowls on wooden decks – The sun’s rays can reflect off a glass or stainless steel water bowl and ignite a wooden deck.
  • Pet proof the home – Hide any loose wires and other dangerous objects around your home.

To Keep Your Pets Safe in Case of Fire:
  • Keep pets near entrances when away from home – When leaving pets home alone, keep them near entrances where firefighters can easily find them.
  • Secure young pets – Keep young puppies and other pets in crates where they do not have access to loose wires and other dangerous objects.
  • Practice escape routes with pets – Keep collars and leashes near the door in case you have to evacuate quickly.
  • Consider using monitored smoke detection services – These can help save pets when you aren’t home.
  • Affix a pet alert window cling (pictured below) – You can get a window cling here and label the number of dogs, cats and other animals in your home so firefighters know how many pets to look for.

Monday, July 12, 2010

EMS Careers

Check out some of the career options you can pursue with an education in Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
  • EMT Basic – A first responder who takes care of patients at the scene of an accident or emergency situation.
  • EMT Intermediate – Able to perform more tasks and handle more equipment than their counterparts at the basic level.
  • Paramedic – Provides more extensive premedical care to patients. Paramedics can administer medicine orally and intravenously, interpret EKGs, and work with more advanced equipment and machinery.