New Orleans EMS Expo Educates Responders

EMS Expo 2005 opened in New Orleans last week, featuring over 120 presentations by leading EMS experts and showcasing over 300 product exhibitors.

The show, created by EMS Magazine, is now one of Cygnus Business Media's public safety events along with Firehouse Expo, Firehouse World and Enforcement Expo.

The show ran from August 25-27, narrowly escaping the onset of Hurricane Katrina, and was co-located with the National Association of Emergency Medical Technician's annual meeting and 30th anniversary celebration.

Highlights of the event included a highly spirited debate regarding federal EMS leadership, titled, "Does EMS Belong in the Department of Homeland Security?" Voices from across the industry debated the risks and benefits of remaining within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or advocating a move the Department of Homeland Security.

Other sessions fell under the categories of Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support, Educator, Administrator, Fire/Rescue, Frontline Response, Ambulance Management and General Audience. Topics included pediatric trauma, recruitment and retention, domestic violence, and classes such as, "10 Things I wasn't Taught in EMT Class."

Events on the exhibit hall floor included book signings at the EMS Magazine Booth by leading EMS authors, and lively presentations by NAEMT President Ken Bouvier, called "Tricks of the Trade," on how to use common equipment in new ways. One tip he shared was to place any available plastic sleeve over a flashlight to diffuse the light over a larger work area.

Other show highlights included the keynote speakers of the opening and closing ceremonies.

The opening keynote Thursday was presented by Lt. General Kevin C. Kiley, Surgeon General and Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command. Kiley discussed recent lessons learned through military medicine, and the military's potential for cooperative efforts with EMS in the event of incidents such as natural, accidental or terrorist disasters.

The opening ceremony also featured award presentations, including the 20th Annual EMS Magazine/Braun Industries EMT/Paramedic of the Year award, which went to Lisa Valadie of American Medical Response in Clinton, Mississippi. Her profile and accomplishments are featured in the August issue of EMS Magazine.

The closing keynote Saturday was presented by noted EMS speaker and cartoonist Steve Berry, titled, "If Life is Worth Saving, It Must Be Worth Living." The presentation was both hilarious and heart wrenching as Berry shared his personal experiences to demonstrate the value of using humor while working in emergency medical care, to reduce stress and nurture emotional health. Berry also shared lessons he learned from a former patient who became his friend and mentor before she died of cancer, including, "People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care."

EMS Expo 2006 will run from Sept. 25-29 in Las Vegas, Nevada.