2010: The Year in EMS in Review

Putting compressions first in CPR was one of the most significant changes in EMS in 2010.

In October, the American Heart Association changed the way CPR is performed when it announced that chest compressions, not breaths, should be done first. The change applies to all cardiac arrest victims except newborns.

AHA officials noted that studies show it's important to keep blood circulating when the heart's not working properly. Their guidelines now say compressions should be done to a depth of at least two inches and at a rate of at least 100 times a minute.

Officials noted that civilians--even those untrained in CPR--may be more willing to get involved without the requirement for rescue breathing. The idea of performing mouth-to-mouth, they say, often caused some not to get involved in the lifesaving measure.

Also last year, the first National EMS Advisory Council issued recommendations its members believe will enhance prehospital care. Among their suggestions was a central database to keep track of illnesses, injuries and fatalities involving EMS personnel.

They also noted the importance of supporting federal efforts to expand, enhance and fund EMS research in the areas of operations, finance and medical outcomes.

NHTSA EMS Director Drew Dawson said he was impressed by the hard work of the council, and lauded them for their two-year commitment. He added that he looks forward to working with the next council, which held its first face-to-face meeting in Washington earlier this month. Meanwhile, members of FICEMS (the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS) continued their work on a myriad of issues ranging from helicopter EMS to rural access to EMS. And, in the waning days of the current Congress, the so-called field EMS bill was introduced into the House of Representatives.

Formally H.R. 6528, the Field Emergency Medical Services Quality, Innovation and Cost-Effectiveness Improvement Act, the bill was the result of a long development process spearheaded by Advocates for EMS. It was sponsored by Reps. Tim Walz (D-MN) and Sue Myrick (R-NC).

Advocates for EMS President Kurt Krumperman called the introduction a success. "We have our foot in the door with this being introduced," he said. "We hope to reintroduce the measure next year, and hopefully gain more supporters."

The bill addresses a number of things that directly affect prehospital providers, including recognition of a lead federal agency for field EMS (NHTSA); grant programs for states and field organizations; workforce development; quality and data collection; an emphasis on safety; and evaluation of models for delivery of field EMS care.

News of the World

On an unrelated note, site statistics show EMSWorld.com readers were interested in a variety of topics in 2010.

The most read stories of the year included the death of a baby killed by a falling branch in Central Park; the ruling that a Connecticut ambulance company wrongfully fired an employee for a Facebook post; and a crash involving an ambulance and a semi in Iowa.

Other popular stories included one about a woman being awarded $10 million in a suit involving a birth in an ambulance, and turning off lights and sirens for cardiac arrest patients transported by Texas service MedStar. Readers also clicked on stories involving EMS personnel killed while performing their duties. These included a Pennsylvania medic killed by an emotionally disturbed man and a San Diego EMT killed while setting up flares at a roadside accident scene.

They also followed stories about the Pennsylvania paramedics who were disciplined after they failed to walk through a snowdrift to reach a patient, who later died.

Another top story involved an FDNY medic whose job was on the line after violations about patient privacy.

What Else?

Other top stories of 2010 in EMS included:

• The NAEMT's EMS On the Hill Day successfully premiered, with an estimated 140 EMS proponents visiting Capitol Hill legislators and staffs;
• The County of Los Angeles Fire Museum recognized Drs. Leonard Cobb, J. Michael Criley, Walter Graf and Eugene Nagel and its inaugural Pioneers of Paramedicine;
• The National EMS Memorial Service inducted 26 news honorees killed in the line of duty;
• The swine flu pandemic officially ended;
• In October, EMS Magazine, EMSResponder.com and EMS EXPO unified under the name EMS World;
• The National Fire Protection Association released its draft ambulance standard;
• The FAA proposed new safety measures for medical helicopters;
• Medicare ambulance bonus payments were extended through 2011, but a new rounding policy and "productivity adjustment" will decrease payments to services;
• The FDA began working on improving defibrillator safety.