MARCH 2025

50th ANNIVERSARY SPOTLIGHT

Influential Figures in NAEMT's History

The father of NAEMT education, Dr. Norman McSwain, created NAEMT’s Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) program in 1984. A key member of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, he advocated for the NAEMT Board to develop a Prehospital Trauma Life Support course – a non-physician version of ATLS. The PHTLS prototype, initially titled “Improved Trauma Management”, was revealed by Dr. McSwain and Bob Nelson to a large audience at the 1983 NAEMT Annual Meeting held in Dearborn, Michigan.

Do you have a photo from the past 50 years or message to share? Send it to media@naemt.org  and we will add it to our 50th anniversary  page . Thank you!

WHAT'S HOT

Proof in the Power of EMS Advocacy:

 Medicare Add-Ons Extended Through September 30!



Congratulations to all who advocated on behalf of the EMS profession and urged Congress to extend Medicare add-on payments. The extension passed on March 15, thanks in part to the nearly 4,000 emails sent by EMS advocates around the country, securing add-on payments for urban (2%), rural (3%), and super-rural (22.6%) areas. We appreciate the dedicated efforts of the NAEMT Advocacy Committee, coordinators, and members driving this effort!

Educational Workshop | Empowering EMS with Data: From Insights to Action

Join us on Wednesday, April 2 from 9-12 noon, for a working session that will help you turn your data into an influential story for elected officials. Held in conjunction with EMS On The Hill Day in Arlington, VA, come prepared to roll up your sleeves for an insightful and interactive working session on how to present your data in ways that are impactful to elected officials. Participate in this educational workshop to curate your story for success!  View Details

NAEMT Radio Podcast Highlights How Data Can Empower EMS

Episode 47  features Regina Crawford, Scott Willits, and Justin Duncan, presenters of the EMS On The Hill Day pre-conference workshop,  Empowering EMS with Data: From Insights to Action , providing practical guidance on how to leverage data for legislative advocacy. They explain how to turn daily operational data into compelling stories that resonate with legislators and share insights on the value of building relationships with congressional staffers and preparing well-crafted "leave-behinds" to strengthen the case for EMS. 

ADVOCACY

Rommie Duckworth, NAEMT Northeast Region Board member represented NAEMT at the in-person traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (TOHCA) guidelines workgroup. This two-year workgroup is creating the next set of practical, evidence-based guidelines for TOHCA collaboratively with  NAEMT, AHA, ACS COT, AAP, NAEMSP, and ACEP . #trauma #phtls

Steve Kroll Recognized for Outstanding EMS Advocacy

City & State ’s 3rd annual Who's Who in Government Relations spotlights notable New Yorkers advocating for change in city, state, and federal government, and our own Steve Kroll made the list! As a former NAEMT Board member and current Chair of the NAEMT Advocacy Committee, advocacy coordinator for the State of New York, and numerous state efforts, Steve has led by example to empower EMS practitioners and bring change to the EMS profession. Congratulations, Steve!

On March 1, NAEMT and eight leading EMS organizations adopted a joint Position Statement recommending factors that prosecutors, judges, and others in the criminal justice system should consider when determining whether criminal liability should be sought or imposed, or convictions upheld, against EMS clinicians alleged to have committed medical errors.  View Position Statement

NAEMT Urges Caution in Budget Resolutions Reducing Medicaid Spending

As Congressional Budget Committees draft Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Resolutions, NAEMT urged caution in reducing Medicaid spending, which would greatly impact communities across the nation that rely on 24/7 availability of EMS for the sick, injured, elderly, and disabled. EMS receives significant funding from the Medicaid program yet can bring achievable savings and efficient solutions through support of Treat-in-Place (TIP) and Mobile Integrated Healthcare-Community Paramedicine (MIH-CP) initiatives.  Read More

EDUCATION

Free CE Webinar Focuses on Managing Pediatric Airways

Respiratory emergencies are the most common medical emergencies for children. These emergencies follow a progression of severity from distress to failure, ultimately leading to respiratory arrest. Identifying where the patient is on this continuum at any given point in time is critical to performing the proper interventions and avoiding further deterioration. Join pediatric emergency physician Dr. Rudy Kink for  When Seconds Count: Pediatric Airway Management , a one-hour webinar to further understand our smallest patients’ airways to help determine management and save time by applying the most effective treatments. 

Tuesday, April 22 / 12pm CT / 1 hour of free CE credit |  Register Today

Learn To Integrate NAEMT Courses into Your Paramedic Program at ACCREDITCON

Are you planning to attend  ACCREDITCON , May 28-June 1, in Anaheim, CA? If so, register for  Integrating NAEMT Evidence-Based Courses into Your Paramedic Program,  a preconference course hosted by NAEMT power team Joanne Piccininni, Troy Tuke, Michael Kaduce, Rick Ellis, and Dave Page.  Learn to identify the NAEMT course curricula to meet paramedic competency requirements and how to incorporate NAEMT curricula into paramedic initial education. It’s an opportunity to discuss best practices with program directors who have successfully incorporated NAEMT curricula into paramedic education programs.  Register Today

Receive the best in prehospital trauma education at the World Trauma Symposium on October 21, either in-person in Indianapolis, IN or by virtual live stream. The Symposium features insights from top global experts, including  Dr. Rachel Russo , board-certified general and critical care surgeon, presenting on the latest research on tourniquets. Participants can receive up to 8 hours of ACCME or CAPCE-approved CE credits. The Symposium will be moderated by:  Col. (Ret) Warren Dorlac, MD, FACS, USAF , PHTLS Medical Director, and  Margaret M. Morgan, MD, FACS, CAPT MC(FS) USN , PHTLS Associate Medical Director.

Register at EMSWorldExpo.com by May 9 for $185 in-person / $90 virtual (physicians add $30). Remember, NAEMT members save $125 on EMS World Expo 3-day program registration. Register Today

There’s Still Time to Get Certification Credits by March 31 with Recert!

Complete your recertification on your time. The Recert.com  course library offers HUNDREDS of high-quality EMS and Fire-Rescue online courses, including the best NAEMT education – like the latest edition of EMS Safety! Most courses take just 1 to 2 hours to complete and feature interactive, media-rich, scenario-based learning. Full NAEMT members save 15% on recert courses and subscriptions.  Visit the Member Portal

Support the Future EMS Workforce – Share NAEMT Scholarship Opportunities

PROFESSIONAL

EMS News Briefs



• New London Fire Department (CT) seeks to correct 'imbalance' between staff and call volume.  Read More



• Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA) and Rep. Brad Finstad (MN) introduce bipartisan Preserve Access to Rapid Ambulance Emergency Medical Treatment (PARA-EMT) Act to address EMS staffing shortages and military medic-to-civilian EMS transition. Read more

• Jeffersontown Fire, EMS staff in Kentucky will get extra day off as part of new retention plan.  Read More

• “If EMS wouldn’t have been there that day and as quickly as they were, I believe Emma would have died...” In the wake of her child’s accident, an Iowa mom advocates for EMS, calling it essential. Read More

• Early Food Allergen Introduction Linked to Increase in Emergency Care. Observational study suggests impact of changing guidelines. Read More

Get Ready for National EMS Week, May 18-24 – We Care. For Everyone.

EMS Week Store

EMS Week 2025 will honor the vital role of EMS professionals in helping cities, towns, and villages across our country. We support EMS Week because we believe in educating the public and stakeholders about prehospital medicine and the services provided by EMS to the community. For inspiration in planning the week’s events, check out our  website .

TIPS to support the EMS workforce and bystander response:

• Recognize Health, Wellness, and Resilience Day  on Sunday, May 18, by inviting your team to take the Mental Health Resilience Officer ( MHRO ) course. 
• Recognize EMS Safety Day  on Tuesday, May 20, by inviting EMS personnel to take the NAEMT  EMS Safety  or EMS Safety Officer ( ESO ) course. 
• Recognize EMS for Children Day  on Wednesday, May 21, by partnering with your local schools in celebration of the work of EMS practitioners or encourage colleagues to take the NAEMT Emergency Pediatric Care ( EPC ) course.
• Recognize  Save-A-Life Day  on Thursday, May 22, by teaching the First On The Scene ( FOTS ) course to prepare the public to respond to medical crises. Also consider  donating blood  or hosting a blood drive to support blood transfusions in the field by EMS.

Recognize Our Profession’s Best… Make Your Nomination Through May 30

NAM Change Maker Campaign Aims to Strengthen Health Workforce Well-Being

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) held its Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness on March 18. NAEMT is proud to join the hundreds of NAM Change Maker organizations supporting efforts to address burnout on behalf of our EMS workforce. Learn More  

A Very Warm Welcome to Our New Agency Member!

We are pleased to welcome McCandless–Franklin Park Ambulance Authority of Wexford, PA, to the NAEMT family and look forward to representing and serving you.

Sign up to become an NAEMT agency member and your agency will receive access to a complimentary NAEMT Mental Health Resilience Officer (MHRO)  or EMS Safety Officer (ESO)  online course, as well as an entire employee benefits package .  Learn more  about NAEMT Agency Membership.

Sign up today and every individual on your membership roster will receive the full member benefits package, including $125 off EMS World Expo 3-day core registration!

Attend Free NAEMT Annual Meeting – Save $125 on EMS World Expo Registration

We invite you to attend the NAEMT Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, IN, October 20-24. Held in conjunction with  EMS World Expo , the free events, meetings and receptions provide time for NAEMT members to engage and socialize with association leaders and colleagues from around the nation and the world.

During the meeting, we will celebrate our EMS profession at the General Membership Meeting and recognize the outstanding recipients of the National EMS Awards of Excellence. We look forward to welcoming you to Indianapolis! 

We are pleased to provide a host of  benefits  for our members. Log in to  Access Your Benefits and take advantage of these and other promotions. As always, thank you for your membership and service. Can't log in? Contact Us

• EMS World Expo – save $125 on the 3-day conference program. Scroll through your member benefits and select the  Register  link to be redirected to the EMS World Expo registration form where the discount will be automatically applied.
• Avis/Budget  – Save up to 25% with Pay Now, plus enjoy double upgrades and special offers. Benefit from complimentary Avis Preferred® and Budget Fastbreak® memberships to skip the counter at most airports.
• GE Appliance Store – Save up to 40% on select major appliances and receive FREE DELIVERY on orders over $399 through April 2, 2025.
• Lenovo  – Save up to  58% off  on select products through March 30, 2025. 
• UPS  – Save up to 50% and Manage Shipments like a Pro with UPS My Choice ^®  for Business. Sign up is free.

• May 5-9: SOMA 2025 Scientific Assembly (booth #814), Raleigh, North Carolina
• May 30-June 1: CoAEMSP ACCREDITCON (booth #16), Anaheim, California 
• August 4-6: National Conference of State Legislators Legislative Summit (booth #1029), Boston, Massachusetts 
• August 4-9: NAEMSE Annual Educational Symposium (booth #205), Orlando, Florida
• August 7-10: Kansas EMS Association Conference (KEMSA), Manhattan, Kansas
• October 13-15: Mississippians for EMS (MEMS) Conference, Biloxi, Mississippi
• October 20-24: EMS World Expo (booth #923) & NAEMT Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana
• November: Indiana EMS Association Conference, French Lick, Indiana

We look forward to attending SOMA, May 5-9 in Raleigh, NC, bringing together prehospital, tactical, wilderness, austere, disaster, and deployed medicine to meet and exchange ideas.   Learn More