Ill. EMS Moves Into Firehouse to Reduce Response Times
Greene County Ambulance Service will station an advanced‑life‑support unit inside the Roodhouse Fire Protection District firehouse within two weeks. The move places two EMS personnel closer to the northern part of the county, where roughly 75% of ambulance runs originate. By relocating from Carrollton, where response times can reach 20 minutes, officials expect significantly faster medical and traumatic emergency response. The firehouse placement is temporary until a new clinic in White Hall is completed.
‘Behind Every Call Is a Team’: 2026 EMS Week Tributes Spotlight EMS Professionals' Dedication
National EMS Week ran May 17‑23, 2026 under the theme “Improving Outcomes, Together,” spotlighting the teamwork that drives emergency care. Agencies from FD NY to Charlotte‑Mecklenburg and hospitals such as ThedaCare used the week to honor EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers and students for their...
Detroit EMS Crew Honored for Lifesaving Care After Shooting
During EMS Week 2026, Detroit’s emergency medical services crew received the Kim L. Lifesaver of the Year Award for their rapid care of a critically injured shooting victim on Feb. 18. The team stopped severe bleeding and treated a collapsed lung...
Lawsuit Claims Missing PD Body Cam Footage Hides Assault Inside N.J. Ambulance
A Bergen County man, Brian Caughey, filed a lawsuit alleging that Rutherford police officers struck him while he was handcuffed, belted and harnessed inside an ambulance on June 9, 2024. The suit claims an officer delivered a head and face blow that...
AI-Equipped Rigs Bring Hospital-Level Care to Rural Mich. Patients
University of Michigan researcher Jason Corso leads a five‑year, $24.6 million ARPA‑H‑funded project to build VIGIL, an AI‑equipped mobile clinic that brings hospital‑level diagnostics to rural patients. The truck‑sized vehicle will arrive this fall, with nine units slated for launch in...
Pittsburgh Researchers Develop Shelf-Stable Artificial Platelets to Stop Severe Bleeding
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, in partnership with Case Western Reserve and Haima Therapeutics, have created SynthoPlate, a freeze‑dried artificial platelet that reconstitutes with water to form a clotting agent. The quarter‑sized vial remains stable at room temperature for...
S.C. Hospital Plans New Freestanding ED
Piedmont Medical Center, a Tenet Health subsidiary, has filed a permit to build a freestanding emergency department at 233 Catamount Drive in Lake Wylie, South Carolina. The application, still under York County review, follows the 2020 opening of a 17,000‑square‑foot...
'Setting the Standard': Okla. City Diverts over 6,000 Mental Health 911 Calls in First Year of Program
Tulsa’s 911 call center partnered with Family & Children’s Services’ COPES program, diverting over 6,600 mental‑health calls in its first year. About 90% of those calls were resolved entirely by a rotating team of five clinicians. The initiative saved roughly...
2 Hospitalized After Li-Ion Battery Explosion at Tenn. Manufacturing Plant
Two employees were seriously injured when a lithium‑ion battery exploded at Amaero Advanced Materials and Manufacturing's new 130,000‑square‑foot facility in Cleveland, Tennessee. One worker was airlifted by Erlanger’s Life Force helicopter to a burn center, while the other received ground...
Hantavirus Outbreak Aboard Cruise Ship Sends Americans to Biocontainment Quarantine Units
A hantavirus outbreak aboard the expedition cruise MV Hondius led to three deaths and nine confirmed cases, prompting U.S. health officials to place 18 American passengers in specialized quarantine and biocontainment units. Most of the Americans, including influencer Jake Rosmarin,...
Protesters Demand Direct Helicopter Access to Seattle Children’s Hospital
Protesters gathered near Seattle Children’s Hospital demanding that all pediatric emergency helicopters be permitted to land directly on the campus. Currently, a 1990s‑era policy limits landings to only “critically ill or injured” children, forcing 73 of 222 airlifts in 2025...
W.Va. Congresswoman Honored for Rural EMS Advocacy
U.S. Rep. Carol Miller was honored as one of the American Ambulance Association’s Person of the Year for her advocacy on rural emergency medical services. The award highlights her work on ambulance reimbursement, treatment‑in‑place payment models, and the PEAKS Act,...
N.C. County Moves to Keep FirstHealth as EMS Provider
Lee County commissioners voted Monday to reopen negotiations with FirstHealth of the Carolinas to retain its ambulance service after the MedEx deal fell apart. FirstHealth, the county’s EMS provider since 2021, was originally passed over in favor of MedEx, which...
Ala. Hospital Adds Pediatric Critical Care Transport Ambulance
Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children has launched a new Kids Care Critical Care Transport ambulance, replacing an aging unit to keep infants and children in North Alabama linked to the region’s top pediatric services. The mobile ICU transports more...
Md. County Debates Grant-Funded Whole Blood Program for EMS
Somerset County, Maryland, is debating a MIEMSS‑funded whole‑blood program that would place the lifesaving product on local ambulances for at least five years. Emergency physicians argue the blood can curb the 75% of preventable trauma deaths that occur before hospital...
Okla. EMS Director Sounds Alarm on Funding Crisis
Woodward County EMS Director Pebbles Luddington warned that rising call volumes and stagnant reimbursements are creating a funding shortfall. The agency billed more than $3 million last year but had to write off $1.6 million due to insurance contracts and unpaid balances....
Mont. Air Ambulance Service Seeks $2M for New Helicopter
ALERT, the Montana air‑ambulance service, has secured $3.5 million toward a $5.5 million Bell 429 helicopter and is now seeking the remaining $2 million from the community. The new twin‑engine rotorcraft will replace one of the existing Bell 407s, which will become a backup unit....
Pittsburgh EMS Brings ‘Mini Hospital’ to NFL Draft
Pittsburgh EMS deployed over 100 paramedics and a mobile medical unit—dubbed a “mini‑hospital”—to staff the three‑day NFL Draft from April 23‑25. Foot teams equipped with AEDs and compact medical bags navigated dense crowds to provide on‑site treatment, including for a 12‑year‑old...
Wrong-Way Crash Kills 1, Injures 6 on Calif. Interstate
A wrong‑way driver on northbound Interstate 680 near the State Highway 242 split caused a multi‑vehicle collision late Friday night, killing one passenger and seriously injuring four others. The driver, a female operating a Dodge Charger, was later arrested on suspicion of...
NYC Community Rallies as Paramedic Faces Cancer Battle
Staten Island paramedic William Negron, a 31‑year veteran of Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, has been diagnosed with liver cancer after tumors were discovered during 2025 bloodwork. He has undergone radiation at Mount Sinai and now faces additional treatment and...
Longtime Wis. Flight Physician Retires After 34 Years, over 4,000 Patients
Dr. Mike Abernethy, a 66‑year‑old emergency‑medicine professor at UW‑Madison, retired in April 2026 after more than 34 years with UW Health Med Flight. He logged over 4,000 patient transports and holds the longest continuous faculty service in the university’s emergency‑medicine...
Pa. City Approves $2.8M 5-Year Ambulance Contract Following Hospital Closure
Chester, Pennsylvania approved a five‑year, $2.8 million contract with nonprofit VMSC Emergency Medical Services to provide ambulance coverage after the bankruptcy‑induced closure of Crozer Heath Hospital. In its first year, VMSC handled 8,324 calls, cut average response times from over 12...
Mobile Medical Lab Brings Lifesaving Training to Texas First Responders
Texas Health Fort Worth launched a 43‑foot mobile medical simulation lab that travels across North Texas, bringing realistic, hands‑on training to EMS providers, firefighters and rural healthcare workers. The unit replicates a patient room and classroom, allowing participants to practice...
Iowa FD's Whole Blood Pilot Program Proves Worth with Stabbing Victim
The Des Moines Fire Department launched a pilot that equips ambulances with whole‑blood units and transfusion kits, allowing paramedics to start life‑saving transfusions before hospital arrival. In February, a paramedic used the system on a stabbing victim, delivering blood on...
Lawsuit Accuses Former N.C. EMT of Taking Photos of Dying Patient
A North Carolina lawsuit filed on April 23 alleges former Onslow County EMT Megan Jenkins photographed a critically injured patient on Aug. 25, 2025, and later shared the images. The complaint claims the county ignored protocols by not securing Jenkins’ phone or investigating...
Minn. Paramedic Pushes for Memorial Honoring Fallen EMS
Veteran paramedic Adam Harvey is spearheading a campaign to erect Minnesota’s first EMS Line of Duty Death Memorial on the State Capitol grounds. His nonprofit, the Minnesota EMS Line of Duty Death Memorial Foundation, has raised roughly $50,000 and is...
Pa. FD Ambulance Service Joins Regional EMS 911 Rotation
The West Middlesex Borough Council approved adding the Shenango Township Volunteer Fire Department’s ambulance service as the third EMS agency on the borough’s 911 rotation. The move follows school‑district officials highlighting delayed ambulance arrivals and a broader shortage of EMS...
Calif. City to Raise Ambulance Transport Rates, Add New Unit Amid Rising Costs
Laguna Beach City Council approved a roughly 10.3% inflation‑adjusted increase to its in‑house ambulance transport rates, raising the basic life support fee to $3,088.40 and the advanced life support fee to $3,529.60. The hike is intended to offset higher fuel, medical‑supply...
Photo of the Week: Airway Trauma Training
EMS1 staff, a team of seasoned writers, editors, and emergency medical professionals, deliver timely, actionable content for pre‑hospital care providers. The outlet emphasizes breaking news, expert advice, and practical tools to improve EMT and paramedic performance. It promotes free subscription...
NYC Hospital Takes Additional Ambulances Out of Service Due to Financial Challenges
Richmond University Medical Center will retire two 911‑responding ambulances in July, cutting its fleet to four daytime units after ending an overnight shift earlier this year. The reduction reflects the hospital’s financial strain as an independent provider lacking the scale...
N.C. Sheriff's K-9 Airlifted After Medical Emergency in First Use of Tenn. Transport Program
A six‑year‑old Belgian Malinois K‑9 named Luca suffered acute lung injury after accidental ozone exposure in Clay County, North Carolina. He was stabilized locally and then air‑lifted by Erlanger LIFE FORCE Air Medical to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary...
Family Challenges W.Va. EMS Account, Demands Charges After Fatal Ambulance Incident
John Lucas, 45, died after being struck by a Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority vehicle on April 15. Family members dispute the sheriff’s office account that Lucas was armed, presenting surveillance video that suggests he was seeking help. Radio logs...
Canadian Medic Ordered to Pay $6K in Discipline for Antisemitic Social Media Posts
Winnipeg paramedic Saru Chahal was reprimanded by the College of Paramedics of Manitoba and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine plus $5,000 in costs for antisemitic social‑media posts made after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack. The posts portrayed Hamas fighters positively,...
Iowa County Settles Lawsuit with Former Ambulance Director
Jefferson County, Iowa, settled its breach‑of‑contract lawsuit with former ambulance director Brian Thomas by having him pay a symbolic $1 and drop his $75,000 counterclaim. In return, the county dismissed its suit and Thomas acknowledged his resignation was voluntary and...
Ind. County Officials Extend Ambulance Contract Through 2030
Clark County commissioners approved an amendment extending their EMS contract with Heartland Ambulance Service through the end of 2030. The deal freezes the current service rate, sidestepping the 3% annual increase originally slated. It also adds two basic life support...
New Orleans EMS Misses Response Time Benchmarks as Understaffing Worsens Delays
New Orleans EMS missed national response‑time benchmarks in 71% of incidents, with average arrivals at 17 minutes 45 seconds—almost double the nine‑minute standard. Chronic understaffing, operating at only 60% of budgeted personnel and fielding 17 ambulances instead of the 26 needed,...
Photo of the Week: Boston EMS Graduation
Boston EMS graduated 26 new EMTs and promoted eight staff members during a ceremony at Faneuil Hall. The new EMTs completed a six‑month academy and responded to more than 3,000 9‑1‑1 calls. Promotions included two lieutenants and six paramedics, reflecting...
Ala. Expands EMS Treat-in-Place Reimbursement, Rural Healthcare Under New Laws
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed a suite of health‑care bills, most notably SB 269, which allows ambulance operators to be reimbursed for basic life‑support services delivered on‑scene without patient transport. The legislation also includes measures to restrict sugary‑drink purchases with SNAP...
At Least 19 Injured in 70-Vehicle Pileup on Colo. Interstate
A massive pileup involving roughly 70 vehicles snarled eastbound Interstate 70 near Clear Creek County, Colorado, prompting a closure of the highway about 50 miles west of Denver. State officials evaluated 19 occupants, eight of whom were taken to hospitals, including...
Mass. Fire Apparatus Receives EMS Equipment Upgrades
The Chicopee Fire Department in Massachusetts upgraded all its apparatus with advanced EMS equipment after earning Emergency First Response certification. Six fire engines, two aerial trucks and two reserve units can now deploy CPAP machines, albuterol, epinephrine, glucose and other...
College Professor Named Colo. EMS Instructor of the Year
Kristie Skala, a veteran paramedic and longtime Aims Community College professor, was honored as the Northeast Colorado Regional EMS Instructor of the Year. Skala helped launch Aims' first paramedic program in 2007 and now teaches in a 53,000‑sq‑ft simulation facility...
Ill. Village Considers Tax to Sustain Struggling Ambulance Service
Oakwood, Illinois is weighing a special 0.15% tax to keep its ambulance department operational after volunteer numbers dwindled. The proposed levy would generate roughly $290,000 a year, enough to sustain paid staff and avoid severe service cuts. Director Zach Weddle...
Md. County EMS Tensions Rise Amid Fears of Another System Takeover
Somerset County took over Princess Anne Volunteer Fire Company’s ambulance service after the volunteer unit cited rising costs, dwindling membership and low reimbursement rates. The takeover has highlighted a funding imbalance, with the northern squad receiving significantly more county dollars...
Free Narcan Vending Machines Launch in Mich. County to Address Overdose Rates
Muskegon County, Michigan, has installed five free Narcan vending machines at Trinity Health facilities and the county public health department to combat its high opioid overdose rate. The machines, funded by the county, dispense unlimited naloxone kits during normal operating...
Pa. 'Blue Envelope' Program Helps First Responders Aid Drivers with Autism
Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health, launched the Blue Envelope program with Luzerne County police, expanding a model already active in Monroe, Lehigh and Northampton counties. The initiative gives drivers on the autism spectrum a blue envelope that...
Mobile Sim Lab Helps Neb. First Responders with EMS Training
Omaha Fire Department and Creighton University are using a mobile simulation lab to train firefighters to become paramedics. The UNMC‑donated lab has trained about 670 personnel in its first year, delivering 20‑30 minute hands‑on sessions instead of multi‑hour classroom courses....
Axon Tackles Public Safety's Data Overload with Three New AI Tools
Axon announced three AI‑driven tools at Axon Week 2026 to tackle the growing flood of video, image and telemetry data that accompanies more than 240 million U.S. 911 calls each year. The new Axon Vision platform scans live CCTV feeds for...
Ind. FD Launches Program to Divert Non-Emergency 911 Calls to Nurses
The Terre Haute Fire Department (THFD) has launched the Crosswalk to Care program to divert low‑acuity 911 calls to registered nurses for appropriate care navigation. Over the past seven years, THFD’s run calls grew by 450 annually, with roughly 20%—about...
'The System's Broken': Minn. EMS Faces Staffing Gaps as Calls Surge
Hennepin County’s EMS is operating below minimum staffing levels even as 911 call volume climbs 26% to nearly 100,000 annually. Union records show shifts with fewer than nine paramedics on duty when over two dozen are required, and a February...
Wash. FD Becomes Test for University's Pre-Med Expansion
The University of Washington expanded its Health Care Alternative Spring Break program to include pre‑med students shadowing emergency medical services at Longview Fire Department. In 2024, 82% of the department’s calls were medical, underscoring the relevance of pre‑hospital experience. Students...