Costa Mesa Paramedic Works To Help Prevent Suicides Among Colleagues
Mike Ruhl helps identify and counsel firefighters and paramedics suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. In other California news, lead is found in the water at some San Francisco high schools, retail clinics gain popularity and San Diego students are thinking about new ways to fight the hepatitis outbreak there.
Los Angeles Times:
Costa Mesa Paramedic Is On The Front Line In Effort To Prevent First-Responder Suicides
[Mike] Ruhl, a 31-year-old Mission Viejo resident, was recognized as Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue’s Team Member of the Month in November, partly because of his passion for identifying and counseling firefighters and paramedics suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or suicidal thoughts. “Fortunately, I haven’t had anyone close to me go down that path [suicide],” Ruhl said. Though it hasn’t gained the same attention as suicide among military veterans, suicide among firefighters is a national problem. (Langhorne, 11/30)
KQED:
High Levels Of Lead Detected In Tap Water At Some San Francisco Schools
New documents obtained by KQED reveal that half of San Francisco schools have lead in their water, though levels vary widely from school to school. Information obtained as a result of a request under the California Public Records Act shows water from one tap measured more than 370 times the allowable concentration of lead. (Hossaini, 11/30)
The North Bay Business Journal:
Retail Clinics Soar In Popularity
They succeed by bringing services where the consumers are, as opposed to patients going to their doctor’s office. ... Founded by two emergency room doctors and based in San Francisco, Direct Urgent Care has four locations in Berkeley, Mountain View, Oakland and is opening an office by the end of the year in Vacaville. All are in or near retail centers. (Sweeney, 11/29)
KPBS:
Biotech Incubator Lets Clairemont Students Tackle Real-Life Problem
The county and city have deployed hand-washing stations, tents and nurses armed with vaccines to stop the spread of hepatitis A in San Diego. Now, Clairemont High School students are putting their heads together to develop new ways to counter the virus. The exercise is part of a San Diego Unified effort to connect students to the region’s biotech sector. (Burks, 11/30)