A feasibility study conducted in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania recommends that local Emergency Medical Services agencies strengthen regional cooperation and secure dedicated funding to stabilize EMS operations. The study was requested by county commissioners and reviewed the practices of most EMS providers in the county. EMS1 Key Findings Several volunteer EMS agencies in Wyoming County have folded [...]
1. Staffing Shortages & Burnout Continuing nationwide EMS workforce shortages Mandatory overtime and reduced time between shifts Fatigue impacting safety and patient care Difficulty recruiting and retaining new medics Burnout from high call volume and low pay relative to responsibility Paramedics feel stretched thin, and many worry the shortage will worsen. What Providers Can Do [...]
Why it matters more than ever For many of us in EMS, the sound of the siren and the flash of the lights are ingrained in our mindset: “This is a life-or-death call; we’re getting there fast.” But recent data and proposed policy changes are prompting a reassessment of that assumption. In Wake County, North Carolina, [...]
For many EMS providers, the job isn’t just a job—it’s an identity. We don’t simply work in EMS; we live it. The pager tones, the adrenaline, the teamwork, and even the tough calls become part of who we are. That’s why the idea of retirement can feel strange, even unsettling, especially when your not ready to [...]
🔥 When a First Responder Becomes the Emergency: North Babylon Chief on Leave After Viral Video A viral TikTok video showing North Babylon Volunteer Fire Chief Peter Alt shouting profanity—“Shut the fk up! It’s like this with you every f**king week!”—at a distressed 10‑year‑old girl has sparked outrage and immediate action from his agency and town [...]
On December 27, 2024, Boulder paramedic Edward McClure responded to a call involving a disturbed individual at the University of Colorado. Jesus Lopez Barcenas, 36, was found disoriented, handcuffed, and in a prone position after resisting arrest and allegedly grabbing an officer’s gun. McClure administered 5 mg of Droperidol—without a documented assessment—placed Barcenas prone on a gurney, elevated [...]
The human brain is an incredible organ. It contains billions of neurons and is responsible not only for the higher functions that set us apart from all other living things, but also is responsible for maintaining all of our life sustaining functions. It weighs about 3 pounds (approximately 2% of total body weight) yet it consumes [...]
Scene Safety and Situational Awareness Scene safety is always the top priority on any EMS call, and this cannot be overstated when responding to a potential terrorist incident. Major incident training ingrains in us that we must “prioritize [our] own personal safety above that of the scene and survivors” ( Risks to emergency medical responders at [...]
As time passes some things get worse and some things get better. With the transition from active-duty military service to a civilian career many times service members are starting over, which as many know is a daunting task. I got off active duty in 2014 and at that time I saw no clear path to utilizing [...]
