Reader Feedback: December 2020

Looking Back on 30 Years of EMS World Expo

I just read the great Five Questions With piece [“Marie Nordberg on the History of EMS World Expo”]. I finally made a connection I should have made a long time ago. 

I was at the first Expo in Atlanta! I was a brand-new paramedic about to graduate from college. My girlfriend (now wife of 30 years) and I jumped in my car and drove west. I completely missed that EMS World is the new incarnation of the old Emergency Medical Services Magazine. 

I was sitting on the couch of my EMS station sometime in early 1989, contemplating my impending college graduation and where I’d take my new EMS career. I’d already read the latest edition of the magazine and, just to be complete, was reading the masthead. I saw the title of one of the editorial board members: Carl Post, PhD, EMT; Director of Graduate EMS Studies at New York Medical College. Hmm…a master’s in EMS. That sounded cool. Since we didn’t have e-mail back then, I wrote him a letter expressing interest. Then I saw he was speaking at this conference in Atlanta. A road trip sounded exciting to me and Kristi, so off we went. I wanted to meet him in person and talk about the program (and perhaps get in a bit of pre-application sucking up). I guess it worked. I was accepted! And 31 years later I’m still using that degree as an EMS medical director (and lecturing at the same conference and writing for the new version of the same magazine). Very cool to put those pieces together. 

—Jeffrey L. Jarvis, MD, MS, EMT-P, medical director, Williamson County (Tex.) EMS system

Kudos From a Young Reader

I’m a 15-year-old girl who lives in New York and loves to read your magazine. It’s so educational and interesting. I’ve always had a passion and love for medicine and science. I learn a lot from my father, who’s a nurse, but your magazine pushes my passion to a whole new level. Every month I wait for your magazine hoping my father is still signed up for his subscription. 

I love learning about new studies or just regular things like why a person can have a seizure. Another thing I love is the column “State by State.” I find it so interesting to know what goes on in other states. The column “EMS Around the World” is also great. It’s almost better because I get to find out about other countries and their medical findings and struggles. But I’d have to say my all-time favorite [articles are about public safety]. From these articles I especially learn a lot. Last year we needed to do a report in biology, and I used one of your articles about crush syndrome. I got an excellent grade. I’d like to end by saying thank you. P.S.: I would love if you could make your magazine once a week!

—Fraida, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Exceptional Expo Keynote

As a longtime paramedic and attendee at EMS World Expo, I want to congratulate and thank you for scheduling Dr. William Flanary for the keynote address. His talk was exceptional, and your choice of him was certainly well placed. As a longtime EMS educator, I hope his presentation or even the 9-1-1 recording will be available for my teaching purposes. Pass on my thanks to all involved in making this virtual Expo almost as good as all the others I have attended since 2001. 

—Philip M. Ericson, PhD, AEMTP, Emeritus Professor, State University of New York, Oneonta

[Note: All main conference attendees receive Expo On Demand; others can purchase at www.emsworldexpo.com.]

Virtual Pediatric Education

Early this morning through midday, I was tied up in the first-day voting line [in North Carolina]—three hours and 30 minutes—and the actual voting process (another line in the voting area and COVID spacing for one more hour). So I was unable to watch the live webinar “Improving Pediatric Emergency Readiness: How to Reduce Skills Decay in the New Era of Virtual Learning.” When I returned home I watched the entire program. An important topic, and an interesting new approach in virtual education for pediatric care by EMS and across the overall U.S. healthcare system. I had not seen any news elsewhere about this new online peds education program until today’s EMS World webinar. Thanks for staying at the tip of EMS and clinical news and education.

—Bill Atkinson, PhD, MPH, MPA, EMT-P, FACPE, Raleigh, N.C.