National Association of State EMS Officials

12/20/2022

All of us at NASEMSO are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Susan McHenry. Susan became the State EMS Director for the State of Virginia in 1976 before joining the NHTSA Office of EMS in 1996. Susan continued to serve the EMS community for another 20 years, helping lead our Nation's EMS system through numerous projects. In 2017, NASEMSO recognized Susan with the adoption of Resolution 2017-01, Honoring the Lifetime Achievement of Susan McHenry, Colleague and Friend. You can read the resolution here:https://nasemso.org/wp-content/uploads/2017-01_Susan-McHenry-Resolution.pdf.

NASEMSO extends our most sincere condolences to Susan's family.

Thank you, Susan, for all you did for EMS. You will be missed.

12/08/2022

NASEMSO Annual Meeting to Feature Author and Central Figure of American Sirens, the Story of Freedom House Ambulance

The NASEMSO Annual Meeting 2023, June 11-15, in Reno, Nevada, will feature paramedic and author, Kevin Hazzard, who will share his gripping account of Freedom House Ambulance as told in his latest book, American Sirens. What’s more, Freedom House paramedic John Moon, who is believed to have performed the first endotracheal intubation in the field, will be a guest of honor. He will join Hazzard to share the remarkable story of a largely forgotten group of Black men in Pittsburgh who became America’s first paramedics. Due to the vision of Dr. Pater Safar, the courage of medical director Dr. Nancy Caroline, and the determination of a group of unlikely individuals who in 1967 had been recruited off the inner-city streets in Pittsburgh, Freedom House Ambulance broke ground in EMS when they demonstrated how paramedics could perform advanced medical skills with the right training and support. Recently featured on Good Morning America, Hazzard and Moon share snippets of the birth of modern EMS.
A clip from Good Morning America: How 24 Black Men Became the Country's First Paramedics: https://www.youtube.com/embed/chn6J5D7bTs

For more information about the NASEMSO Annual Meeting 2023, click: https://nasemso.org/news-events/meetings/

12/05/2022

Congratulations to Steve McCoy (FL) for his election to the Board of the National EMS Quality Alliance (NEMSQA)! Steve is the Bureau Chief for the Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight for the Florida Department of Health. He is a former Board member of NASEMSO and a long-time member as well. NEMSQA is an alliance of numerous EMS stakeholder groups and associations focused on developing EMS performance measures in through a scientifically sound process. You can learn more about NEMSQA here: https://www.facebook.com/NEMSQA

Good work, Steve!

12/01/2022

Recently, NASEMSO members attended the National Registry’s New State Officials Summit in Columbus, OH. The Summit is a recurring event hosted by the NREMT and brings state EMS officials who may be new to their role to the NREMT headquarters for an opportunity to discuss the interactions between a state EMS system and the NREMT. Most importantly, the Summit is an opportunity to establish the personal relationship between NREMT staff and EMS leaders in the state systems. Fostering this relationship and understanding between a state EMS office and the National Registry creates an environment where we can work collaboratively with the shared vision of protecting the public in building our Nation’s EMS system. National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT)

11/19/2022

Sam Hurley, State EMS Director for Maine and Dia Gainor, Executive Director, NASEMSO, joined the Traffic Incident Management Executive Leadership Group in Washington, D.C. to sign the Crash Responder Safety Week Proclamation. We must do more to raise awareness about crash responders on our roadways!

11/16/2022

Panel recommends $76M annual infusion to help Maine's EMS system

A major investment in the Maine EMS system:
https://www.ems1.com/legislation-funding/articles/panel-recommends-76m-annual-infusion-to-help-maines-ems-system-aPMqfaNJA8qfsQIm/

Agencies have been struggling with declining staffing levels, poor Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates and high operating costs

11/11/2022

National Kickoff: CRSW 2022 | National Operations Center of Excellence

To commemorate the start of Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shares with the Traffic Incident Management (TIM) community messages, testimonials, and strategies to promote the safety of traffic incident responders and road users. This unique webinar will feature USDOT and national association executive leadership messages, responder struck by testimonials, the National Proclamation signing, and a call to action. CRSW 2022 kicks off with a free webinar sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, on November 14 from 1-2 pm (EST), featuring messages from national associations, the signing of the CRSW National Proclamation, struck-by testimonials from responders, and more. For more information, click below.

Register Here ADD EVENT TO CALENDAR Back to calendar Start Date: November 14, 2022 from 01:00 pm - 02:00 pm EST PDH Credit 2.00 Summary: To commemorate the start of Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shares with the Traffic Incident Management (TIM) communi...

11/09/2022

effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov

NEW from AHRQ!! The agency has posted a technical brief on Infection Prevention and Control Issues for the Emergency Medical Services and 911 Workforce. Read more athttps://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/related_files/ems-911-workforce-technical-brief.pdf

11/08/2022

Recently, four State EMS Directors from the NASEMSO East Region joined up to answer questions and discuss the work in progress in each of their states at The National Conference on EMS held in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Congrats and "Bravo!" to Justin Romanello (NH), Ryan Greenberg (NY), Sam Hurley (ME), and Aaron Rhone (PA)! Well done in your leadership of EMS and snappy accessorizing!

11/07/2022

Now it's easier to contact National Association of State EMS Officials.

Now it's easier to contact National Association of State EMS Officials.

11/01/2022

November 6-13 is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. Prioritize sleep and make sure you get the right amount of sleep you need to feel refreshed and alert. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7-9 hours a night for adults. NASEMSO has numerous resources to help address fatigue in EMS. Learn what you can do to keep yourselves, crews, and patients safe from the risk! Read more at emsfatigue.org!

11/01/2022

Colorado’s Commissioner Elected Chair of National EMS Compact | EMS Compact

Congratulations to Donnie Woodyard, and a job well done to Joe Schmider!

https://emscompact.gov/the-compact/news/colorado%E2%80%99s-commissioner-elected-chair-of-national-ems-compact

All News Colorado’s Commissioner Elected Chair of National EMS Compact by Ray Mollers Colorado’s State EMS Director, Donnie Woodyard, was elected chair of the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice on October 27, during the Commission’s annual meeting. Commissioner Joseph Schmider (T...

10/28/2022

American College of Medical Toxicology: Chemical and Traumatic Crowd Control Injuries

In recent years, use of crowd control agents and strategies in response to protest events has drawn significant attention in the media. The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) is offering a low-cost, 4-hour virtual training for emergency medical services, law enforcement, fire personnel, healthcare providers, first responders/receivers, emergency department physicians and nurses, and public health practitioners. The training aims to build awareness of commonly used protest-related control agents and strategies. It will describe the appropriate medical (pre-hospital and emergency department) management of chemical and traumatic crowd control injuries. This training is scheduled for Dec. 1, from 1-5:00 p.m. EST. Learn more and register on ACMT’s website. Read more and. register at https://education.acmt.net/products/chemical-and-traumatic-crowd-control-injuries

In recent years, use of crowd control agents and strategies in response to protest events has drawn significant attention in the media. The American College of Medical Toxicology is pleased to offer this half-day (4- hour) course, which aims to build awareness of commonly used protest-related contr...

10/03/2022

National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being - National Academy of Medicine

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience in October 2022 launched the National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being, which intends to drive collective action to strengthen health workforce well-being and restore the health of the nation. The vision is that people are cared for by a health workforce that is thriving in an environment that fosters their well-being as they improve population health, enhance the care experience, reduce costs, and advance health equity.

About The capacity and well-being of the U.S. health workforce has been under threat for years by an epidemic of burnout, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this systems issue. […]

09/30/2022

Mass Shootings in America: Consensus Recommendations for... : Journal of the American College of Surgeons

NEW Resource from JACS!! "Mass Shootings in America: Consensus Recommendations for Healthcare Response." Download for free at:

emergency medicine physicians (EM), and surgeons who provided medical response to six of the nation’s largest recent mass shootings. Methods: The study consisted of a three-round modified Delphi process. A planning committee selected six MSI sites with the following criteria: the MSI occurred in 2...

09/12/2022

has launched a Pediatric Education and Advocacy Kit with free, multidisciplinary, multimedia resources for managing pediatric pain in emergency settings! Check it out: https://bit.ly/3Ak6UHH

08/31/2022

Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management

The National EMS Quality Alliance in collaboration with the Florida Department of Health Division of Emergency Preparedness and Community Support, invites members of the public and EMS community to submit comments on draft measures for the Feasible, Actionable, Impactful, Relevant (F.A.I.R.) EMS Measurement Project. Content was updated following a public comment period in 2021 and measures were updated and re-specified for clarity, feasibility, and applicability. More info is available at https://qfreeaccountssjc1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cHExTIVJdbwLtEq

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

05/30/2022

Read what the great state of INDIANA is doing to protect EMS workers! Congratulations to all involved!! Reduce the number of non-emergency interfacility transfers during the night shift? BRILLIANT!!! Read more...

https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/INDHS/2022/05/26/file_attachments/2169343/EMS%20Fatigue%20Recommendations.pdf

05/25/2022

We are all in this together!!

05/14/2022

NASEMSO salutes all EMS professionals preparing to celebrate National EMS Week, May 15-21. Special events are planned across the country, and this year, each day is marked by a special focus:

Sunday is Health, Wellness, and Resilience Day to promote the health, wellness and resilience of EMS providers and patients.
Monday is Education Day, highlighting public education programs and EMS provider education
Tuesday is EMS Safety Day to promote Safety for the EMS provider, the patient, and the public
Wednesday is EMS for Children Day to highlight the special needs of caring for children
Thursday is Save-A-Life Day to promote Stop the Bleed, public CPR programs and other programs
Friday is EMS Recognition Day to recognize your local EMS heroes and those who save lives through the EMS system.

Thank you to all who serve!

04/22/2022

New Stop the Bleed resources are now available at stopthebleedproject.org. Check it out!!

04/03/2022

A Proclamation on National Public Health Week, 2022 | The White House

Saluting all public health colleagues this week!! Your ongoing service to the health and welfare of our citizens is greatly appreciated!

Each year, National Public Health Week provides a chance for all of us to come together to restore and strengthen the public health of our Nation. As we

03/18/2022

Version 3 of NASEMSO’s Model EMS Clinical Guidelines is now available! New guidelines have been added to the 2022 edition and with the permission and assistance of the American College of Surgeons – Committee on Trauma, we have included the 2022 National Guideline for the Field Triage of Injured Patients as Appendix IX. Download the updated guidelines at https://nasemso.org/wp-content/uploads/National-Model-EMS-Clinical-Guidelines_2022.pdf.

03/17/2022

JEMS Con 2022 Preview: Fentanyl Facts and Fiction: A Safety Guide for First Responders

MUST READ!! Excellent overview and helps address the ongoing problem of misinformation!

First responders can respond safely to incidents where fentanyl is present without unnecessary anxiety by following some pretty simple guidelines.

02/22/2022

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher and Congresswoman Val Demings Introduce Legislation to Promote Public Safety and Make First Responder Communication Network Permanent

BREAKING NEWS!! Bipartisan effort to make the FirstNet Authority PERMANENT! H.R. 6768, the FirstNet Reauthorization Act introduced today!

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and Congresswoman Val Demings (FL-10) introduced H.R. 6768, the FirstNet Reauthorization Act, to promote public safety by ensuring first responders can communicate with each other in times of crisis.  Established in response to the first responder communicat...

02/14/2022

naemsp.org

Just revised and published!! Joint Statement on Lights & Siren Vehicle Operations on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Responses. The life you save may be your own!!!!

02/07/2022

National Rural EMS & Care Conference | National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health

Registration now open!! https://nosorh.org/ems/

National Rural EMS & Care Conference Register now for the 2022 Virtual National Rural EMS & Care Conference! About the Conference The conference will take place virtually from April 19-21, 2022. Invited attendees include rural ambulance services, rural EMS directors, medical directors and officers,....

02/03/2022

National Women Physicians Day Special!!!

Help celebrate National Women Physicians Day by listening to an ACEP podcast!! Thanks to ALL of our women colleagues on this special day!

Today(2/3) is National Women Physicians Day and we are joined by three physician leaders, Dr. Gillian Schmitz, Dr. Torree McGowan, and Dr. Anne Zink to talk about their experiences, challenges, and mo

02/01/2022

Washington Update - January 2022

Now available!!

Understanding the science behind sleep health and applying these principles to the EMS workforce is intended to help improve safety through fatigue risk management. This primary objective served ​to guide activities for a 5-year project awarded to NASEMSO by the National Highway Traffic Safety Adm...

01/28/2022

New Nurse Navigation System aims to aid EMS

An idea whose time has come???

Calls that are not life-threatening will go to a nurse rather than an emergency room.

01/20/2022

UPDATE: Blood Specimen Collection Tube Conservation Strategies

CONSERVATION of supplies is encouraged! The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is aware the United States is experiencing significant interruptions in the supply of several blood specimen collection (blood draw) tubes because of an increase in demand during the COVID-19 public health emergency and recent vendor supply challenges. The FDA is expanding the medical device shortage list to include all blood specimen collection tubes. (Previous warnings were limited to vials with sodium citrate.) More info at https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/letters-health-care-providers/update-blood-specimen-collection-tube-conservation-strategies-letter-health-care-and-laboratory

The FDA recommends conservation strategies to minimize the use of these tubes and maintain the quality and safety of care for patients.

01/14/2022

NASEMSO expresses CONGRATULATIONS to our colleague Gamunu Wijetunge for his recent appointment as the Director of the Office of EMS at the National HIghway Traffic safety Administrration effective January, 29, 2022. Way to go, Gam!!

01/04/2022

We are sad to announce that one of our past presidents, Jim DeTienne, recently lost his battle with multiple cancers. His integrity, wit, wisdom, and gentle demeanor will be missed by all who knew him. Please visit our web site for more information.https://nasemso.org/wp-content/uploads/Press-Release-Jim-DeTienne-2021-final.pdf

12/15/2021

Our next EMS 360 webinar is now open for registration! Five years after its launch, the Fatigue in EMS Project made available through funding support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reaching its conclusion with the launch of a biomathematical model/fatigue risk analyzer for EMS personnel. We will summarize the project and provide a live demonstration of the new webtool on January 5, 2022 at 11:00 AM ET/ https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/468677146662230288

12/08/2021

New pediatric standards have been announced for all trauma centers. Is your team ready? Get prepared by joining EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center’s Trauma Improvement Sprint on Feb. 23 and March 2: https://bit.ly/PedsTraumaImprovement.

12/01/2021

Santa Says Don’t Aim Holiday Laser-Light Displays at the Sky | Federal Aviation Administration

The holiday season is here and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) wants to make sure your laser-light displays are aimed at your house, not at the sky. The extremely concentrated beams of laser lights is a danger to aircraft pilots and reach much farther than you might realize.

Laser-Light Displays Can Distract or Temporarily Blind a Pilot, Don’t Get Fined or Go to Jail!

11/18/2021

Go GREEN on National Injury Prevention Day!

10/22/2021

Sirens: Loud, Ineffective and Risky, Experts Say

The NYT highlights lights and siren use along with risks of emergency vehicle speeding in a new article!

The overuse of lights and sirens, combined with speeding, pose heightened risks to emergency responders and civilians. One expert called it a “public health dilemma.”

10/22/2021

In honor of National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Overdose Prevention, will host a Twitter chat on Tuesday, October 26, 2 pm ET. The goal is to amplify the message that substance and opioid use disorders are preventable, and recovery is possible. The discussion will center around sharing resources on prevention strategies across the continuum – from primary prevention to mitigate adverse childhood experiences, to harm reduction strategies like naloxone and medication-assisted treatments. Be sure to follow the chat at or with the hashtag (National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month Chat).

10/12/2021

Kids and their families need specialized help when it comes to su***de and mental health. View new resources from : https://bit.ly/3hBjXfc