Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS

09/04/2026

City of Pittsburgh crews have been working around the clock in response to last night’s severe weather. With more rain expected, please use caution and safe practices:

➡️ Don’t drive or walk through standing water!
➡️ Heed all barriers!
➡️ Immediately report downed power lines and emergencies to 911 - do not touch downed lines!

Read more about the City’s storm response here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/PAPITT/bulletins/4287440

09/04/2026

Check out the Pittsburgh EMS Week-in-Review for August 23-29!

09/04/2026

Beyond the Badge: Paramedic Austin Saenger

Saenger has been with Pittsburgh EMS for nearly six years, spending more than four of those years as a paramedic. Currently stationed at Medic 2, where he has been for two and a half years, he also previously served on the Hazmat Medical Team.

Saenger attended Grove City College and earned a degree in business. He discovered his passion for EMS after becoming an EMT and working part-time during his college years.

He loves the high-intensity nature of the job and appreciates the opportunity to provide help to people on their most difficult days. For him, one of the most fulfilling experiences on the job has been delivering babies. He has successfully delivered three baby girls since joining Pittsburgh EMS.

Interesting Facts:
▪ “I am currently off work, enjoying paternity leave with my wife and our two daughters, who are one year old and three weeks old.”
▪ “I’ve only broken one bone… my skull. It happened while playing sports at a summer camp near Pittsburgh where I worked during college.”
▪ “I have a three-year-old golden retriever named Goose.”
▪ “I enjoy doing projects around the house, landscaping, and building things for my daughters.”

Do you want to nominate someone for a future Beyond the Badge spotlight? Let us know in the comments section.

09/01/2026

EMS Tool Tuesday: Infant Safe Sleep Screening

So far in 2026, Pittsburgh has seen an increase in infant deaths related to unsafe sleep practices, with this year's infant deaths already surpassing the total for 2025.

Pittsburgh EMS is once again making a push for safe sleeping conditions for all babies.

Check out the quick screening tool our crews use when on calls to help educate families and distribute free cribs to families in need.

If you have an infant in your home, resources are available to new parents and caregivers to avoid preventable tragedies.

Remember these simple A, B, C guidelines to keep your baby safe:
▪️ Alone
▪️ On their backs
▪️ In a crib or pack-and-play

Cribs for Kids® National Infant Safe Sleep Initiative provides cribs to every baby born in Allegheny County, if needed. Learn more about Cribs for Kids here: https://cribsforkids.org/

For more information on safe sleep practices visit Healthy Start, Inc. Pittsburgh/Allegheny County: https://healthystartpittsburgh.org/

08/28/2026

🚨ONE WEEK LEFT TO APPLY🚨

🚑 Serve your community. Build your career. Make an impact.... The City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Emergency Medical Services is NOW HIRING Paramedics!

As a Pittsburgh Paramedic, you’ll provide basic and advanced life support, emergency medical care, rescue services, and critical care when people need it most.

💵 Starting at $27.45/hour with annual rate progression opportunities up to $43.57/hour as Crew Chief
🩺Excellent Health Benefits
🎓 No Prior Paramedic Work Experience Required
🧾 EMT-P certificate/card or PHRN certification must be presented at the time of the Physical Agility Test

🔗APPLY TODAY - Applications close 9/4/26 @ 4PM! 🚨
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/pittsburgh/jobs/5402539/paramedic

City of Pittsburgh Careers is your bridge to endless opportunities!

08/28/2026

Check out the Pittsburgh EMS Week-in-Review for August 16-22!

08/27/2026

Just before 3:00 p.m., Pittsburgh Police, Fire, and EMS—along with River Rescue—were dispatched to Brady Street at Second Avenue near the Birmingham Bridge for reports of a male stuck in a manhole, with fears that he could be swept out into the river.

EMS was preparing for a confined space rescue when the male—a construction worker relining nearby sewers—was located in an adjacent manhole. The manhole cover was removed and the male was able to self-extricate via a ladder.

He reported that he was uninjured and declined medical care at the scene.

A short time later, the scene was cleared and all units returned to service.

08/26/2026

Beyond the Badge: Paramedic Jeanie Leggate

Leggate was born and raised on the North Side of Pittsburgh. She has been with Pittsburgh EMS for 16 years, spending the majority of her career at Medic 3 in the West End before recently moving to Rescue 2.

Her interest in EMS developed after losing a grade school friend to an accident while she was in college. Following that loss, Leggate decided she wanted to dedicate her life to helping others.

She says it has been extremely rewarding to serve as a paramedic in the Pittsburgh community that raised her, giving her the ability to help the people and families she grew up with.

Interesting Facts:
▪ “I am a World Champion in Taekwondo and qualified for the Olympic trials when I was much younger.”
▪ “My wife is an ER social worker whom I met while working for Pittsburgh EMS. We have been married for nine years and have to boys, Cameron and Jayce, who live and breathe sports. Because of that, I spend the majority of my time volunteering for our local neighborhood sports organizations.”
▪ “I have traveled to 23 of the 30 NFL stadiums.”
▪ “I have a 14-year-old Pitbull named Baja.”
▪ “Every Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, my wife and I host an open house for my fellow medics and any other first responders who work and won’t get a chance to see their family or those who are off-shift but won’t make it to wherever home is for them. All are welcome to come, eat, and spend the day with us so they feel like they are with family. We usually host around 50 people. It’s my family’s favorite tradition!”

Do you want to nominate someone for a future Beyond the Badge spotlight? Let us know in the comments section.

08/26/2026

08/25/2026

EMS Tool Tuesday: Rope Rescue

Whether you are on a roof, in a trench, or anywhere in between, Pittsburgh EMS has the tools and training to come to your rescue.

Each medic unit carries harnesses for both crew members, who provide medically directed rescue to patients during technical rescue operations.

The EMS Heavy Rescues respond alongside our medic units, carrying a large amount of rope, hardware, and specialized equipment to access and rescue patients high in the air or deep underground.

This year, our Rescue Paramedics will complete more than 4,000 hours of rope rescue training, ensuring they are ready to rescue patients from any situation!