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Lights and sirens are a medical intervention

Brooke Burton and Bryan Wilson join the podcast to discuss the NEMSQA Quality Improvement Initiative

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EMS should use lights and sirens selectively, the same as any clinical intervention for our patients. On Feb. 14, 2022, leaders of many EMS associations published a statement calling for decrease in use of red lights and sirens for EMS responses and transports.

Data from NHTSA and Dr. Doug Kupas’ seminal paper on the use of red lights and sirens in EMS that fewer than 7% of patients transported to the hospital with lights and sirens received a life-saving intervention upon arrival in the ED.

In this episode of The EMS Educator podcast, hosts Rob Lawrence and Hilary Gates, MAEd, NRP, interview two of the leaders of research and change on this topic:

  • Brooke Burton, quality improvement and controlled substances manager at Unified Fire Authority in Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Bryan Wilson, EM/EMS physician at St. Luke’s University Health Network and EMS Medical Director for City of Bethlehem EMS. They discuss the need to educate the public and local governments that clinical care is more important than response times.

Find out more about the NEMSQA Quality Improvement Initiative.

Contact our guests at bryan.wilson@sluhn.org and bburton@unifiedfire.org.

This podcast is sponsored by EMS Gives Life. Would you consider becoming a living organ donor? Visit emsgiveslife.org for more info.

Get your CE at www.prodigyems.com. Follow @ProdigyEMS on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.


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Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that the time saved with lights and siren use has little-to-no impact on patient outcomes


Prodigy EMS brings you EMS education reimagined. Join us for relevant, high-quality discussions around the best practices in EMS education. You’ll find interviews with experts in EMS, education, medical direction, leadership, and more. Earn CAPCE credit at www.prodigyems.com and explore our library of courses. Follow @ProdigyEMS on Twitter, FB, YouTube and IG.

Hilary Gates, MAEd, NRP, is the director of educational strategy for Prodigy EMS and is a consultant for 410 Medical, Inc. She is a volunteer paramedic in the Alexandria (VA) Fire Department and teaches in the School of Education at American University in Washington, D.C., and in the Emergency Medicine program at University of Pittsburgh. Beginning her career as a volunteer EMT with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad in Montgomery County, Md., Gates became a full-time paramedic, EMT instructor and FTO at AFD, and then served as senior editorial and program director for EMS World. Gates implemented AFD’s MIH/CP program in 2017 and has extensive experience as an EMS educator, symposium presenter, and quality improvement trainer.

Rob Lawrence has been a leader in civilian and military EMS for over a quarter of a century. Currently, he works on both coasts in part-time roles as director of strategic implementation of PRO EMS Cambridge, Massachusetts, and as executive director of the California Ambulance Association. Rob is also the principal of Robert Lawrence Consulting. He previously served as the chief operating officer of Paramedics Plus in Alameda County, California, and COO of the Richmond Ambulance Authority (Virginia), which won both state and national EMS Agency of the Year awards during his 10-year tenure. Rob also writes and podcasts at EMS1, is a member of the EMS1 Editorial Advisory Board, and co-hosts the popular FirstWatch “Conversations that Matters” web series. Rob is a former board member of the American Ambulance Association and currently serves as chair of its Communications Committee and as a member of the media rapid response task force, providing media response to national industry-related news inquiries.