EMS News Reports

Fla. firefighters clash with medical director over ALS

Fla. firefighters began protesting after the medical director pulled eight ALS drugs from non-transport fire engines. The director claimed that the drugs weren't necessary since firefighter/paramedics ...

Investigation launched into Md. Medevac crash that killed 4

Maryland's entire Medevac fleet was grounded as officials investigate a fatal crash that killed four out of five aboard the aircraft. The crash happened at a time when the state's air transport ...

L.A. train wreck kills 25, tests limits of emergency responders

A train collision that killed 25 people in Los Angeles unfolded to elicit a rescue effort that involved hundreds of paramedics, firefighters and law enforcement and shocked the senses of even ...

Paying tribute to 9/11, seven years later

Seven years have passed since the tragic events that took place on September 11, 2001. As the empty site at the World Trade Center awaits for a monument to be erected, first responders who worked ...

FEMA launches successful emergency response under Hurricane Gustav threat

Three years after disgracing itself with a bungled response to Hurricane Katrina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency acknowledged it had learned some lessons as it mobilized against the ...

D-Block debacle: FCC's emergency communications network stalls

When the FCC's wireless spectrum auction came to a close earlier this year, the plan to establish a public/private partnership fell short of becoming a reality. Finger-pointing and recriminations ...

Fiery plane crash at Madrid airport kills 153

A jetliner heading to the popular Canary Islands vacation resort crashed during takeoff, turning a wooded area off the end of a runway into a hellish scene of charred bodies and smoldering wreckage. ...

Mass. Angel Flight crash kills all three onboard

The non-profit Angel Flight plane carrying a cancer patient and his wife crashed Tuesday in Mass. Witnesses said the plane was seen spinning at least twice as it dropped from the sky, its right ...

911 address mistake leads to Ga. woman's death

A Ga. woman died while waiting for ambulances after a 911 dispatcher mistakenly gave the wrong address. Facing angry family members, the dispatcher was fired and Fulton County 911 apologized ...

Remembering the Minn. bridge collapse one year later

Hundreds of mourners, from first responders to victims, gathered on the first anniversary of the deadly Minnesota bridge collapse. The bridge collapsed on the Mississippi River just past 6 p.m. ...

D.C. firefighters investigated for avoiding EMS calls

Automatic vehicle locators showed that two DC Fire/EMS ambulances were not stationed where they were supposed to be. The theory behind the allegations is that the ambulances were not shown to ...

Mo. paramedic/firefighter killed during shooting ambush

A gunman shot at paramedics and firefighters responding to the scene of a burning pickup truck in Maplewood, Mo., killing one and wounding two others. Friends, family and the EMS community mourns ...

N.J. medics fired after KKK hazing prank

Cell phone images show paramedic trainees wearing white sheets, similar to KKK robes, and holding wooden crosses in hazing incident that has sparked outrage among the community. Three University ...

Fatal mid-air medical copter collision prompts transport policy review

A fiery collision that killed six people aboard two medical helicopters has underscored the dangers of emergency flights and renewed questions about whether they are worth the risks. (AP Photo)

Cap-sized ferry boat pressures EMS rescue response in Philippines

A massive typhoon toppled a seven-story ferry as it cut a deadly swath through the central Philippines. Only four dozen survivors have been found; more than 800 passengers and crew are missing. ...

Del. paramedic, patient killed in ambulance crash

Sussex County, Del., Paramedic Stephanie L. Callaway was tending to a patient in the back of a moving ambulance when it veered to avoid a deer, causing a single-vehicle crash, and killing both ...

Fatal Texas medical copter crash prompts FAA review

After a medical helicopter crash in Texas killed all four onboard, federal aviation officials said they are concerned that air evac accidents may again be on the rise. (AP Photo)

Nation celebrates first-ever CPR and AED Awareness Week

U.S. Congress officially designated June 1 – 7 as the first-ever National CPR and AED Awareness Week in an effort to encourage state health departments to increase education of critical lifesaving ...

Celebrating EMS Week 2008: Your Life is Our Mission

Departments and agencies from across the nation celebrate ACEP's 35th National EMS Week. From barbeques to open houses, EMS Week events strive to honor prehospital care providers, as well as ...

Wis. medical helicopter crash kills all three onboard

A Med Flight helicopter crashed Saturday in Wis. killing all three crew members onboard, after they dropped off a patient at a facility. Ending the 23-year record of safety for the department, ...

Relief efforts struggle to reach cyclone-devastated Myanmar

A powerful cyclone tore through the Myanmar landscape Saturday killing up to 10,000 people and leaving 1.9 million people homeless. As malaria, starvation and other health risks descend upon ...

Obesity epidemic applies pressure to EMS care

As the obesity epidemic continues to sweep the nation, EMS systems attempt to accomodate heavier patients by purchasing specialized gear and apparatuses. As a result, hospitals and EMS departments ...

Study: ALS may not be best care in trauma cases

A new study, conducted in Canada, claims that paramedics administering ALS care to major trauma patients failed to substantially improve survival rates. High-trauma patients who received basic ...

S.F. emergency response fails to meet target goals

An investigation of San Francisco's 911 calls found that 27 percent of first responders arrive late on the scene of high-priority medical emergencies, due primarily to the slow processing of ...

D.C. Fire/EMS gets restructured into one 'all-hazards' agency

The latest developments for the D.C. Fire & EMS Department calls for a complete personnel restructuring, which will result in the swearing in of 230 civilian EMS workers as official department ...

EMS1 on scene of the 2008 EMS Today conference

Survey shows 9 out of 10 Australian medics have fallen asleep at the wheel

A recent study from Melbourne, Australia states that "nine out of 10 paramedics say fatigue is affecting their judgement at work." The ambulance union claims that extreme work hours have presented ...

EMS departments grapple with ambiguous confidentiality rules

EMS agencies in Wisc. are currently engaged in a dispute with the state's attorney general over keeping ambulance records private. Citing HIPAA regulations, agencies have resisted attempts from ...

Fla. firefighter/paramedic killed in fast-food restaurant shooting

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue EMS Supervisor Lt. Rafael Vazquez was fatally shot at Wendy's Restaurant Monday after returning to exchange a toy during his lunch break from training. Now crewmates, ...

Dallas Fire-Rescue takes heat for 5-minute response delay in fatal officer's crash

Dallas Fire-Rescue is being scrutinized over a five-minute delay in their response to a fata motorcycle crash that killed a police officer Friday. Officials cite an inexact address and a new ...

First responders recall tragic scene of NIU shooting

A gunman opened fire in a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University on Feb. 14, killing five people and injuring 16 others before turning the gun on himself. Now first responders, witnesses, ...

Valentine's bring heart health into focus

While Valentine's Day usually brings up concerns of dinner reservations and expensive gifts, medical experts provide a reminder of that other important item — the heart. With February designated ...

Two paramedics, pilot killed in Texas medical helicopter crash

The bodies of two paramedics and a pilot were recovered after a medical helicopter crashed off of South Padre Island, Texas, due to bad weather. A massive search and rescue effort was launched ...

American LaFrance files for bankruptcy

Prominent emergency apparatus manufacturer American LaFrance has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after struggling with financial issues in recent years. The company, which celebrated its 175th ...

EMS community impacted by two line-of-duty deaths

The EMS community has been devastated by two line-of-duty deaths this week. Ky. city EMS Director Christa Burchett was hit by a runaway trailer while she was treating an accident victim. Louis ...

Overcrowded emergency rooms strain EMS care

With the brunt of the winter season now hitting the United States, emergency rooms, like those found in Los Angeles County, are being flooded with patients suffering from cold and flu symptoms, ...

EMS at the scene of fatal Utah charter bus crash

A charter bus carrying 53 people failed to negotiate a curvy, wet road causing it to roll and crash into a side embankment Sunday, in Utah. Nine people were killed and EMS were dispatched to ...

Defibrillation for cardiac arrest patients takes center stage in EMS

A new study reports that nearly one-third of cardiac arrest patients don't receive crucial defibrillation shocks within the recommended two minutes of onset. In Fla., lawmakers are pushing to ...

2007: A retrospective of the year in EMS

As 2007 comes to a close, EMS1 would like to take a look back on the tragedies, triumphs and advancements in the EMS field of the past 12 months. Now is the time to reflect on the events that ...

Texas woman mistaken for dead by EMS succumbs to injuries

A 23-year-old woman who was presumed dead by responders and left untreated for two hours on scene died the next day in the hospital. Paramedics covered the woman in a yellow tarp, officials said. ...

Ice storm kills several, shuts down power in Midwest

Crew members work to clear a fallen tree branch off a roadway in Okla. Ice and snow storms caused dangerous driving conditions that killed more than 18 people across the Midwest. Now first responders ...

Medical helicopter goes missing in Alaska

A LifeGuard Alaska helicopter — carrying a paramedic, pilot, nurse and patient — went missing earlier this week. Now rescue crews battle tough weather conditions in their search for ...

Bush to slash anti-terrorism funding for first responders

A first responder participates in a local terrorism drill in Wash. The latest reports indicate that the Bush administration is planning to cut counter terrorism funds for EMS, fire and police ...

Looking for terrorism: A new role for EMS?

The U.S. Homeland Security is implementing a new program to train EMTs and firefighters in major cities to serve as lookouts for terrorism activities, due to their ability to enter homes and ...

First responders back in Southern Calif. city to battle second wildfire

A plume of smoke fills the sky of Malibu, Calif., treating first responders and residents to a familiar scene. A wind-driven brush fire burned out of control this weekend, destroying more than ...

Cyclone Sidr ravages remote towns along Bangladesh's coastline

A cyclone, characterized by 150 mph winds and heavy rain, swept through Bangladesh Thursday killing at least 2,300 people and forcing more than 650,000 to evacuate. Four-feet high floodwaters ...

Nationwide EMS shortage raises concerns over wages and qualified applicants

Tenn. paramedics transport a patient during a call. With reports of a paramedic/EMT shortage in the southern U.S., one Tenn. county touts better recruitment rates due to higher pay scales. In ...

Paramedic response questioned in death of Chicago marathon runner

Record-hitting temperatures left about 300 runners suffering from heat exhaustion during a Chicago marathon in early October. The sole fatality was a participant who died from cardiac arrest. ...

First responders exhaust resources to combat spreading Calif. wildfires

First responders spread their efforts as they continue to dampen several fires in Southern Calif. As flames die down and hope rises, weary rescue crews work to return nearly 500,000 evacuated ...

Deadly staph infections sweep through nation's schools

Health officials warn of taking precautionary measures against staph infections after reports of incidents at several schools and a D.C. EMS facility. A Va. high school student died from the ...

Shooting tragedy targets Cleveland high school

A student gunman injured four people at a Cleveland, Ohio high school before turning the gun on himself. Now families, school and emergency officials ask questions and point fingers in the wake ...

Feds seek legislation to tighten emergency response efforts

A New Orleans paramedic transports a patient during the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. After complaints from first responders who were denied access to the scene, lawmakers attempt to find an ID ...

Colo. paramedic's use of RSI procedure sparks controversy

An American Medical Respone paramedic, who was accused of misusing a rapid sequence intubation procedure, avoids receiving disciplinary action. Now state and EMS officials continue to argue over ...

Officials scramble for solutions as N.J. EMS stalls amid criticism

N.J. emergency crews have been under fire after a commissioned report found crucial shortcomings in service. Now EMS and state officials butt heads as they struggle to find solutions. (AP File ...

D.C. EMS faces system reform after 2006 Rosenbaum case

A tree planted in honor of slain New York Times journalist David E. Rosenbaum who was incorrectly classified as intoxicated by emergency personnel. A panel recently recommended tweaking the D.C. ...

Advances in CPR methods pressure EMS into reviewing policies

A new CPR method, invented by a Va. engineer, is done by applying pressure just to abdomen. The latest advances have pushed the EMS community to dissect the effectiveness of current practices. ...

Six years later: First responders look back while facing new troubles

The skeleton of the World Trade Center twin towers looms in the background as New York City firefighters work amid debris at Ground Zero. With health and preparedness issues still persisting, ...

Calif. EMS encounter grueling heat wave that kills 25

A Southern California resident tries to cool off after triple-digit temperatures, coupled with power outages, killed nearly 25 people last week in heat-stroke related incidents. Now experts warn ...

Danger on the Roads: Latest crash injures two Calif. paramedics

A head-on collision with a drunk driver left two paramedics injured, one of which is in critical condition. This is the latest traffic accident in what some studies cite as the leading cause ...

Rescuers pour into Midwest after flash floods uproot thousands

Midwest states were hit with relentless rain which caused the worst flood levels for the area in about one hundred years, some say. With 22 people dead and thousands homeless, rescue efforts ...

Massive rescue effort sweeps Peru after a devastating 8.0 quake

Firefighters carry the body of a victim in Pisco, southeast of Lima, after an earthquake hit the area. The death toll in the magnitude-8 earthquake that struck Peru's southern desert has risen ...

Responders unite after Minneapolis bridge collapse in massive rescue

Recovery efforts continue after the eight-lane bridge that connects St. Paul and Minneapolis buckled and collaped into the Mississippi river during rush hour. Several people are dead, many more ...

London Ambulance Service key in foiling terrorist plot

Forensic officers watch as the burnt jeep which was rammed into Glasgow International Airport is removed from the scene. The London Ambulance service was critical in foiling the related car bombing ...