WHAT'S HOT

NAEMT and EMS World Award Presentations Recognize Excellence in EMS

As announced on Aug. 7, NAEMT and EMS World presented the 2024 National EMS Awards of Excellence during NAEMT’s General Membership Meeting on Sept. 10 in Las Vegas, NV and at the Opening Ceremony of EMS World Expo on Sept. 11. View Photos. A full recap of our recognition ceremonies will be included in the upcoming NAEMT News fall issue.

Dr. Michael Reihart has led the effort to educate EMS and other medical professionals in the uniqueness of emergencies in Amish and farming communities. Dr. Reihart works with Amish Elders to implement safety measures and to conduct research aimed at improving safety in their communities. Dr. Reihart is Chair of the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council Medical Advisory Committee including EMS; Regional EMS Medical Director for the Emergency Health Services Federation covering Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York areas; and Agency EMS medical director for many EMS agencies in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area.

Henry Lewis has dedicated himself in service to communities in South Carolina and in leadership roles, such as President of the South Carolina EMS Association, and former NAEMT Membership Committee chair. He is a tireless EMS advocate, both on Capitol Hill and in the Palmetto State. He continues to advance the state association’s recruitment campaign to replenish the EMS workforce in South Carolina.

New Graduates, Class of 2024 Lighthouse Leadership Program

On September 11, the Class of 2024, composed of 13 mentees, concluded NAEMT’s Lighthouse Leadership Mentorship Program with a graduation ceremony and breakfast sponsored by NREMT. The cohort is the second graduating class of the program and is now welcomed into a special alumni society of NAEMT Lighthouse Leadership graduates, providing them access to a unique resource throughout their EMS careers. The next cohort, the Class of 2026, will be selected in Spring 2025. NAEMT will begin accepting applications in early January.

#IAmEMS Campaign Launched to Support EMS Recruitment, Future EMS Workforce

Special Member Giveaway in Honor of National Preparedness Month 

September is National Preparedness Month, observed to remind all first responders of our shared responsibility to maintain readiness. Each week this month, NAEMT is holding a special drawing for full NAEMT members and awarding a first aid kit and other must-have items for preparedness response, generously donated by the American Red Cross and North American Rescue. Drawing winners will be announced in Top News on the NAEMT website and on the NAEMT Facebook page. 

EDUCATION

The following awards were presented during the NAEMT Annual Meeting, Sept. 9-13, in Las Vegas, NV. Congratulations to these dedicated individuals for their outstanding contributions to EMS education!

Awards Presented at the World Trauma Symposium

Panagiotis Koukopoulos (left photo), a leader in prehospital care and education in Greece, received the 2024 Scott B. Frame Service Award for outstanding leadership in establishing new training centers, promulgating NAEMT courses in Greece, Cyprus, Georgia, Romania, and ensuring that students in Greece have access to gold-standard NAEMT education. Sergeant Major Sandro “Rabbit” Heinrich (left) and Alan O’Brien, our NATO liaisons, both received the 2024 Dr. Norman E. McSwain, Jr. Leadership Award for their contributions to the growth of TCCC in NATO countries, 20 of which now work directly with NAEMT to bring TCCC to their training centers thanks to their efforts. Both awards are sponsored by Zoll.

Education Service Awards Presented at the Faculty Town Hall

Deb Von Seggern (Nebraska) – Emergency Medicine Services Coordinator for the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Deb is a former NAEMT Board member and the current state education coordinator for Nebraska. She has championed NAEMT education programs for over 20 years in the state.

Enoch Chan (Singapore) – A registered nurse, Enoch works with the Unit for Prehospital Emergency Care (UPEC) under the Ministry of Health. He also serves as the commander for St. John Ambulance. An Affiliate faculty and instructor, he has helped launch 15 NAEMT programs and taught over 50 courses across seven countries. He is the vice chair of the NAEMT Asian Regional Education committee.

Rob Gibbons (Arizona) –Retired from Scottsdale Fire Department as a Firefighter/Paramedic, Rob is currently working for Chandler Fire Department as their Senior EMS Educator and Paramedic Program Director. He is an NAEMT Affiliate Faculty and serves as the NAEMT State Education Coordinator for Arizona.

Justin Arnone (Louisiana) –Chief of EMS with the St. George Fire Department in Baton Rouge, LA, Justin has served in the Louisiana National Guard since 2007 as a Combat Medic. He has taught EMR, EMT, and AEMT courses, as well as assisted with Paramedic Courses. He serves as the NAEMT Louisiana State Education Coordinator and is active on the NAEMT Education Committee.

Alex Protzman (Kansas) – The Major of Clinical Operations for Riley County EMS in Manhattan, KS, Alex has over a decade of experience in EMS and is the NAEMT state education coordinator and is on the AMLS committee. He holds provider, instructor, and affiliate faculty status for several NAEMT courses.

Captain Carlos Adarve Castillo (Spain) – A military nurse of the Spanish Armed Forces, Captain Castillo is an Advanced Combat Life Support Instructor, responsible for the Center of Military Medical Training and TCCC training for a Spanish Infantry Brigade. An Affiliate Faculty for TCCC and TECC and NAEMT's National Military Coordinator for TCCC in Spain, he has helped launch military training centers in Spain.

Register for Free CE Webinar on Substance Use Disorder in EMS Patients – Stopping the Revolving Door

The administration of naloxone for opioid overdose emergencies has been a literal lifesaver for some EMS patients. But beyond a one-time overdose reversal, how can prehospital clinicians impact the prevalence of substance use disorders? Are there options for patients who refuse hospital transport after an overdose? What should you know about medication-assisted treatment?

Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, for an engaging discussion with Dr. Karen Bowers from Erlanger Health System, and Dr. Karen Rogers from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Chattanooga, TN, as they discuss options for prehospital intervention. The webinar offers 1 hour of CAPCE continuing education (CE) credit. Register Today!

Calling NAEMT Instructors: The AMLS 4th Edition Hybrid Course is Live!

The 4th edition Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) Hybrid course is now available! The AMLS 8-hour online modules cover the didactic portion of the AMLS course, allowing you to focus classroom time on application of the AMLS Assessment Pathway through patient simulations. With a library of over 75 patient simulations, there are multiple options for each topic area. Approved AMLS training centers may now register 4th edition AMLS Hybrid courses. 

The 4th edition AMLS Continuing Education modules are now available through the Public Safety Group of Jones & Bartlett Learning. Independent learners can earn 8 hours of CAPCE credit and apply the AMLS Assessment Pathway to online patient scenarios. 

Recert Adds New Modules – Full NAEMT Members Save 15%

The Recert.com course library offers hundreds of high-quality EMS and Fire-Rescue online courses, including the best NAEMT education! The recently added modules from the Geriatric Education for EMS (GEMS) 3rd edition course include left ventricular assist devices, skin disorders, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and more. New modules from the Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) 10th edition course include trauma assessment and exsanguinating hemorrhage, breathing, ventilation and oxygenation, TBIs, spinal injuries, and more.

ADVOCACY

NAEMT Sends Letter in Support of EMS Counts Act

On Aug. 12, NAEMT sent a joint letter with 13 other EMS organizations supporting the EMS Counts Act and requiring the Secretary of Labor to revise the Standard Occupational Classification System to accurately count the number of EMS practitioners in the United States. A similar letter was sent by congressional leaders.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has reported record-high awards for the 2024 Rural EMS Training program grants. The recipients will be listed on the SAMHSA website in the coming weeks. The purpose of this program is to recruit and train EMS personnel in rural areas. NAEMT broadly communicated to members the grant availability, application deadlines, and information on how to apply. View Awards

Just Released: GAPAC Report on Ground Ambulance Services and Balance Billing

The No Surprises Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of the Treasury to establish an advisory committee to review options to improve the disclosure of charges and fees for ground ambulance services, better inform consumers of insurance options for such services, and protect consumers from balance billing. The committee issued its Report on August 28, 2024 (dated March 29, 2024). View Report

Congress is Back in Session. There’s Still Time to Support EMS Legislation

Many bills will be acted on this fall. Contribute your voice to getting key EMS legislation passed by using NAEMT’s Online Legislative Service, a free service for sending emails on the critical federal legislation that will strengthen EMS. It takes only 30 seconds to send an email to your senator and representatives to request support of our key legislative issues.

Learn Who is Running for Office. Visit the Election page on NAEMT’s Online Legislative Service to learn who is running for office in the upcoming general elections on Nov. 5. Click on your state in the map, then click on an election group to obtain information about the candidates.

PROFESSIONAL

EMS News Briefs

• ‘Is the ambulance coming?' What happens when EMS crews can't respond? Read more
• Nebraska pilots EMS telemedicine in ambulances, and solo EMTs are happy. Read more
• Three Townville (PA) ambulance volunteers earn recognition for life-saving efforts. Read more
• Ohio State study highlights changes in how paramedics help people breathe (ETI & SGA). Read more

National Observances Aim to Raise Awareness of Important Health Issues

• Sepsis Awareness Month | Sept. – Sepsis affects over 1.5 million people in the U.S. every year. Find sepsis resources on the NAEMT website, or learn how to recognize and manage sepsis in the field through an Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) course.
• Pain Awareness Month | Sept. – NAEMT offers education for treating prehospital patients experiencing pain in its Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) and Emergency Pediatric Care (EPC) courses.
• World Stroke Awareness Day | Oct. 29 – With a continued focus on the importance of knowing the signs of stroke and the power of saving #PreciousTime, World Stroke Day will be recognized on Oct. 29. Learn More
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month | Oct. – Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States, taking the lives of more than 356,000 people each year, including more than 23,000 youth under age 18.Learn More | Train Bystanders

Candidate Information for the 2024 NAEMT Board Election – Available October 1st

Candidate statements for the open positions on the 2025-2026 NAEMT Board will be posted in the Elections section of the NAEMT website by October 1. Once materials are available for viewing, a notice will be posted on the NAEMT homepage in Top News. The election period in which active members can vote is October 15-28, and members will be notified by email when the election period begins. We encourage every active member to take part in the voting process.

If you are not an active member and wish to vote, upgrade your membership here.

Attend Virtual NAEMT Committee Meetings in October

Members, please watch your inbox for an announcement of virtual NAEMT committee meetings in October. At these virtual meetings, you can learn about committee activities, participate in discussions, and ask questions. Members who wish to attend any of these virtual meetings will need to register in advance. Contact membership@naemt.org if you do not receive an invitation to register. Thank you. 

NAEMT Welcomes a New Affiliate Member

We are excited to share that the Tennessee Association of EMS Providers has joined our roster of affiliates. Affiliation is a formal relationship between NAEMT and EMS membership organizations to help address key issues that impact EMS practitioners, their agencies and the patients they serve. Members of our affiliated associations receive a 25% discount on NAEMT membership with full benefits. 

We are pleased to welcome the following EMS agencies to the NAEMT family. We are very happy to represent and serve you.

• Manorville Community Ambulance Company (Manorville, NY)
• Reid Health EMS (Richmond, IN)
• South Callaway Fire Protection District (Mokane, MO)

Receive NAEMT’s New Online EMS Safety Officer (ESO) course or Online Mental Health Resilience (MHRO) course with your NAEMT Agency Membership.

Learn moreabout NAEMT Agency Membership.

NAEMT-CSU Scholarship Application Reminder

NAEMT education scholarships enhance the ability of full members to advance their education and careers. To apply or learn more, login to the Member Portaland select Scholarships from the left navigation menu. Columbia Southern University Scholarship: Exclusive NAEMT scholarship covers up to 60 credit hours toward one online degree program. Applications are being accepted now through Oct. 31. Learn more and submit your application here.

Meet the NAEMT-Columbia Southern University Scholarship Recipient, Briar Dodds

Briar Dodds of Ayden, NC, has been named the recipient of the NAEMT Scholarship. Looking to pursue a master’s degree in public administration, Dodds feels life has uniquely prepared him for this particular program. “My time with Civil Air Patrol started in 2010, just before hurricane season,” he said. “The first activities I participated in with the program were joint preparedness drills with North Carolina Emergency Management, where I learned the very basics of coordinating disaster response agencies, coordinating logistics for the response, and answering to stakeholders. I have done 14 years with the program and have had numerous opportunities to serve alongside NCEM and the national guard for disaster relief. In public administration, focusing especially on emergency services, several critical issues demand attention in the immediate future,” he said. “My more narrow focus is rural communities, for which disaster preparedness and resilience is especially challenging.