In this issue
State
leaders begin postelection organizing
Gov.-elect Tim Walz
and Lt. Gov.-elect Peggy Flanagan last week began organizing their new
administration. Longtime Walz aide Chris Schmitter will serve as Walz's chief
of staff and Kristin Beckmann, former deputy mayor of St. Paul, will lead the transition.
The transition website is accepting resumes at https://mn.gov/tim-walz/.
Speaker-designate Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) was elected to lead the
Minnesota House, after successfully leading the DFL from a minority caucus to
the majority caucus, flipping 18 house seats. The new DFL majority will have 75
seats, compared to the Republicans' 59 seats. (There is one recount in House
District 5A, where former Rep. John Persell has narrowly defeated incumbent
Rep. Matt Bliss with a four-vote margin.) Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden
Valley), returning to the House, was elected majority leader. The DFL also
elected two-term Rep. Liz Olson (DFL-Duluth) as majority whip. Hortman listed
initial priorities for the 2019 session as including the unfinished issues from
last session: tax conformity, opioid legislation and nursing home abuse.
Hortman and her team will begin the process of selecting new committee chairs.
The House GOP selected current Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) as incoming
minority leader.
The Senate GOP caucus
re-elected Sen. Paul Gazelka (R-Nisswa) as majority leader and chose Sen.
Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) as the next president of the Senate. The caucus also
selected Sen. Michelle Benson (R-Ham Lake), Sen. Gary Dahms (R-Redwood Falls),
Sen. Karin Housley (R-St. Mary's Point) and Sen. John Jasinski (R-Faribault) as
assistant majority leaders. The Senate DFL will keep its leadership team intact
with Sen. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) as minority leader.
MHA will provide
members additional information regarding legislative matching and encourages
members to meet with their legislators prior to the start of the 2019 session
on Jan. 8, 2019.
For more information,
contact Mary Krinkie, vice president of government
relations, MHA, 651-659-1465. return to top
Applications
open for Minnesota Newborn Screening Program advisory committee
Applications are now
being accepted for January 2019 vacancies on the Advisory Committee for
Heritable and Congenital Disorders that advises the Minnesota Newborn Screening
Program.
This committee meets twice per year (spring and fall). Meetings consist of
program updates, review of pertinent topics related to newborn screening
(including guest lecturers) followed by questions and discussion, and, when
applicable, voting on which disorders to add to Minnesota’s newborn screening
panel.
Members of this committee consist of parents, providers and other experts with
vested interest in newborn screening. Membership terms are for four years. At
the end of the four-year term, members are welcome to reapply.
Applications should include the open appointments application form, a letter of
interest/cover letter and a resume or biography.
Applications may be submitted online, by email to Open.Appointments@state.mn.us or by mail or in
person to Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, 180 State Office
Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN
55155-1299. return to top
Winter
helipad safety guidelines
With winter
approaching, hospitals and health systems should review their helipad snow and
ice management plans. Active and robust plans are essential to the safety of
patients, crews and hospital staff.
The most successful plans designate a hospital security or facilities
representative to check the condition of the helipad on a scheduled basis,
especially during times of recent precipitation or high winds to ensure the pad
is kept clear of contaminants.
Seasonal hazards are real and present a serious risk to personnel. Snow and ice
on a helipad are a major safety concern for operations. Slips and falls are a
leading cause of injuries to crews. Flying snow and ice resulting from rotor
wash decreases pilot visibility during a critical phase of flight and can
damage the aircraft.
Life Link III recommends following the guidelines set forth from the National
EMS Pilots Association (NEMSPA):
- Snow should be clear of the pad
and as much of the surrounding safety area as practical. Do not mound snow
near the helipad. Snow that has been removed from the area should be
placed far enough from the helipad as to not become an obstruction hazard
to main rotor or tail rotor systems nor create approach/departure path
obstructions.
- All helipad paint and markings
should be completely cleared of snow so pilots can adequately visualize
the information presented during landing.
- Avoid using rock salt (sodium
chloride) or sand to remove snow and ice. Despite the small size, it can
become a projectile and cause serious injury. Rock salt is also extremely
corrosive and damaging to helicopters. Life Link III recommends Cryotech NAAC for
helipad ice melting.
- Snow melt systems utilizing
steam, heated glycol or electrical heating coils may be the best course of
action for rooftop helipads and are also a viable option for ground -based
helipads.
If
you find your helipad is contaminated with snow or ice that cannot be removed
or other hazards are present, please alert the Life Link III Communication
Center at 1‐800‐328‐1377 so alternate landing zones can be set up.
With any other safety‐related or general
helipad questions, email safety@lifelinkiii.com or call the Life Link
III safety manager at 612‐638‐4900. return to top