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<BR>Please see below. Thank you.<BR>SHANNON L. DILLON<BR><BR><BR> <BR>
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From: Antonette.Sorrick@dca.ca.gov<BR>To: bbarragan@socal.rr.com; ericholm@att.net; jneidich@sbcglobal.net; JXavier@dor.ca.gov; tbsfolsom@sbcglobal.net<BR>CC: shannonldillon@hotmail.com; frank-welte@sbcglobal.net; sherry.hicks@sfgov.org; lkinetz@gmail.com; Kimberly.Brown@dca.ca.gov; tduncan@guidedogs.com; john.denny@sfgov.org; Cenne.Jackson@dca.ca.gov; Kkelly@guidedogs.com; BWendler@gddca.org; CJordan@guidedogsofamerica.org; rhill@gddca.org<BR>Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 14:00:42 -0700<BR>Subject: Tip Sheet - First Responders<BR><BR>
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<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">Below is a link to the Board’s tip sheet on dog attacks on guide dogs for first responders. Below the link is the press release that accompanied the distribution of the tip sheet to 6,000 plus first responders. </SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">Tip Sheet</SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"><A href="http://www.guidedogboard.ca.gov/resources/dogattack_tips.shtml" target=_blank>http://www.guidedogboard.ca.gov/resources/dogattack_tips.shtml</A> </SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><IMG id=ecxPicture_x0020_1 height=118 alt="amr color logo" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CB7B5F.643E5FB0" width=341 border=0></P>
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<P class=ecxMsoNormal><B>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</B></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal>Date: November 1, 2010</P>
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<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><SPAN style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase"> </SPAN></B></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><SPAN style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase">AMR Teams up with California’s board of guide dogs for the blind to Educate Paramedics on Guide Dog Attacks</SPAN></B></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><SPAN style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase"> </SPAN></B></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><B><I>Sacramento, Calif</I>.</B> (November 1, 2010) American Medical Response (AMR), California’s largest provider of 9-1-1 emergency ambulance services, has teamed up with the State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind to help educate Paramedics on the issues surrounding dog attacks on guide dogs. Every year, guide dog users around the world experience dog attacks on their guide dog, which not only can result in serious injury to the animal but also the handler. </P>
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<P class=ecxMsoNormal>In addition, guide dogs that have been attacked may be so traumatized that they can no longer provide services, and will be forced to retire. If a guide dog cannot return to service after an attack, the financial loss is considerable, upwards of $60,000 to raise and train a replacement. In California, a dog attack on a guide dog is a crime and should be reported by the victim to law enforcement. </P>
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<P class=ecxMsoNormal>“As health care providers, we have a duty to protect our patients, especially those who rely on the services of a guide dog. A dog attack on a guide dog can result in serious injury for the user, and owners of the attacking animal should be held accountable”, stated Adam Blitz, AMR Clinical Education Specialist and Paramedic Instructor. </P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal> </P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal>AMR paramedics are often first on scene to those incidents that require an emergency medical response. We also have a significant presence in many California communities, which offers us the opportunity to communicate and educate the public on health and safety issues. By educating our Paramedics on the laws surrounding dog attacks on guide dogs, AMR emergency crews that come in contact with a guide dog user either as a patient or during their daily interaction in the community, can inform them of the need to report an attack.</P>
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<P class=ecxMsoNormal>Starting this week, AMR will begin sending the attached flyer to each of its California operations. AMR clinical education personnel will also begin informing new recruits of the law during the initial stages of their academy training. </P>
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<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center>###</P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">Antonette Sorrick</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">Executive Officer</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">1625 N. Market Blvd., S-202</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">Sacramento, CA 95834</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">(916) 574-7825 direct</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">(916) 574-7829 fax</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">(866) 512-9103 toll free for in-state calls</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><A href="mailto:Antonette.Sorrick@dca.ca.gov"><SPAN style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">Antonette.Sorrick@dca.ca.gov</SPAN></A></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"></SPAN></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><A href="http://www.guidedogboard.ca.gov/" target=_blank><SPAN style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">www.guidedogboard.ca.gov</SPAN></A></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> </SPAN></P></DIV> </body>
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