EMS World Expo 2023 Opening Ceremony Highlights the Critical Role of Emergency Medical Services

“The unconscious athlete is in cardiac arrest until you prove otherwise.”

That was one of the lessons imparted by Woods Curry, an emergency physician, during the opening keynote at EMS World Expo 2023 in New Orleans. Curry was joined by his University of Cincinnati colleague and fellow emergency physician Jason McMullan as they shared the lessons learned from treating what they call “the most watched cardiac arrest in history”--the collapse of NFL player Damar Hamlin during Monday Night Football earlier this year.

The physicians didn’t talk much about the resuscitation itself–after all, in some ways, it was a standard cardiac arrest and one that had everything set up right for success. As Woods shared, one paramedic joked with him that saving Hamlin wasn’t really that impressive, since the Buffalo Bills player was a young, healthy athlete, with a witnessed cardiac arrest, bystander CPR and a shockable rhythm.

“When you put it like that, right? It’s pretty simple,” Curry said.

What isn’t simple is making sure that people in your community who suffer a similar cardiac arrest have that same chance of survival, the speakers said. Unlike NFL games–which have at least half a dozen physicians on the sidelines, not to mention several paramedics and even a respiratory therapist–events in most local communities might be relying on limited resources.

That’s why schools and gyms and other facilities should develop emergency action plans and train for these types of emergencies, the speakers said. But the plan needs to say more than simply “Call 9-1-1,” McMullan said.

“I guarantee that you are involved in their plan, so you should probably know their role and be part of it, because they’re counting on you, and you want to live up to their expectations or, more importantly, set their expectations correctly,” he added.

McMullan choked up telling the story of Matthew Mangine, Jr., who was 16 when he collapsed while playing soccer. His school had an emergency action plan, and defibrillators–but not everyone present knew that, and the AEDs were never used. Magine died.

“So if you've not worked with your athletic trainers, the coaching staffs at your local high schools or junior colleges or professional sports, when you leave here today, reach out,” Woods said.

McMullan concluded the talk by sharing how the experience of responding to Hamlin’s collapse impacted him personally. For days after the event, he said, he questioned whether he’d done everything right, and thought more about what went wrong–”It wasn’t a perfect resuscitation”–rather than all the things that went right. Curry also shared that until Hamlin regained consciousness days later, he had similar thoughts.

“I didn’t get a good night’s sleep for several days,” Curry said. “And I didn’t get a great night’s sleep until he was extubated.”

Finally, McMullan reminded the audience that what they sometimes consider a “good day”–a chance to truly make an impact in someone’s life–is often a bad day for the patients, their families, and their communities. And that while he got to go to the Super Bowl and received accolades for helping Hamlin, he didn’t do anything different than what EMS clinicians do every day.

“I’m not a hero,” he said.

In addition to the keynote, other speakers at EMS World Expo’s opening ceremonies took time to greet attendees and thank them for their service.

After a stirring rendition of the national anthem by cardiac arrest survivor and trombonist “Miracle Meaux,” Meg Marino, MD, director of New Orleans EMS, welcomed everyone to the Big Easy and invited them to donate blood at a blood drive being held at the conference–not a coincidence, as New Orleans EMS is one of a growing number of EMS agencies giving blood to patients in the field.

“You are what makes this conference so special, by coming together in fellowship to learn and grow, so others may live,” Marino said.

Josh Hartman, EMS World senior vice president, then reminded the thousands of EMTs, paramedics, and other EMS professionals in attendance of the critical role of EMS, whether responding to the major incidents that make the news, or the day-to-day calls helping people during their times of need.

“Let us seize the moment to learn, to collaborate, and to propel EMS to new heights. Let us commit ourselves to foster a world where no emergency’s insurmountable, no nightmare is beyond our reach, and no one stands alone in their time of need,” Hartman said.

The opening ceremonies also included presentations of several annual awards, including those honoring EMS clinicians, educators, and agencies making a difference in their communities. David Page, director of the Prehospital Care Research Forum at UCLA, also presented the awards for the best EMS clinical and education research.