The USFA in partnership with the Office of Homeland Security’s Office of Health Affairs released a Handbook for EMS Medical Directors.

A newly minted three-year collaborative initiative between NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), EMSC (EMS for Children) and ACEP (American College of Emergency Physicians) will develop a blueprint for a national "EMS Culture of Safety" strategy.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) opened an additional public comment period on the revised NFPA 1917, Standard for Automotive Ambulances. 

The National Fire Protection Association announced April 27, 2011 that NFPA 1917: Standard for Automotive Ambulances had been approved by vote of the Technical Committee that worked to develop the standard for the past two years.

In what is rumored to be a heavy push from the Obama administration, it seems that a Federal Office of EMS is about to be created in short order. Two meetings have been set to solicit your input on just where and how an EMS office should be established.

An electronic toolkit to provide fire service leaders and fire union officials with the latest information and resources on Fire-Based EMS has been released through a joint effort of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Firefighters, and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association.

The long awaited Guidelines 2010 for CPR and Emergency Cardiac Care were published in a supplement to the November 2, 2010 issue of the journal Circulation.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1917 “Standard for Automotive Ambulances” Committee worked quickly over the past few months to resolve copyright and legal issues that had stymied release of a draft document this fall.

In response to continued outcry over perceived lack of oversight and rules that would improve safety of air medical operations in the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a set of comprehensive new helicopter safety rules that include air ambulances. The changes, if adopted, would strengthen flight rules and procedures, improve training and communications, and add additional on-board safety equipment.

The combination of hard financial times and health care reform have intensified efforts to outsource EMS, overlooking the unique ability of the fire service to deliver timely, safe, competent, cost-effective and compassionate prehospital care. The Fire Service-Based EMS Advocates are working to advance the understanding of the unique contributions Fire-Based EMS delivers.

In 2006, work began to revise EMS educational curricula in the United States. Results of that process produced a new EMS Educational Agenda, finalized in 2009 and currently being rolled out across the country.