The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on Mar. 11, 2020.
The CDC began closely monitoring the outbreak caused by a new coronavirus strain first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019, which quickly spread to southeast Asia, Europe, Canada and the U.S. The first case in the United States was announced on Jan. 21, 2020, in the state of Washington, where the patient recently returned from Wuhan.
The World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency on Jan. 30, 2020. The announcement came shortly after the first human-to-human transmission of the virus in the U.S. was confirmed by the CDC.
EMS has taken the global stage with its frontline response to the pandemic. The EMS1 COVID-19 includes the latest news, videos, podcasts and analysis about EMS training, safety measures, assessment and treatment of patients with COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccine development and supporting the mental health of providers through the pandemic.
(Photo/American Ambulance Association)
As the Delta variant accelerates in the U.S., first responders should be aware of the differences in the latest strain
What first responders need to know about the likelihood of side effects from the vaccine vs. the virus, plus new infection rates
The impact COVID-19 had, and didn’t have, the changes we’re embracing and the change providers want to see
The funds can be used for operational and equipment expenses, including PPE, utilities, apparatus repairs and lost revenue
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said naloxone can be safely administered by first responders with proper PPE and other safety measures
Readers weigh in on whether they will get a COVID-19 vaccine
Examining how the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest and reimbursement are impacting prehospital medicine, and how leaders can care for the workforce
Incident Commander Nick Pachota was deployed for 160 days as part of a team covering one of Florida’s largest population areas
A firsthand perspective on COVID-19 in EMS and fire and how data can help shape your agency’s response
All 4,700 city employees will have their pay decreased by 10% and will be required to take one unpaid day off for every 14-day pay period
Quinwood Emergency Ambulance said the COVID-19 pandemic and a recent reduction of its coverage area made it unaffordable to continue operations
The Firefighter-EMT Michael J. Field Memorial Bridge on Long Island was dedicated in a ceremony on Saturday
Officials said the incident is under investigation to determine appropriate disciplinary actions
First responders and healthcare workers would be in the first 5% of the U.S. population to receive Phase 1a of the vaccine, under the new National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommendations
Authorities said the man tried to spit on the EMT and resisted wearing a mask while being transported after allegedly choking his girlfriend and swallowing her medication
Mr. President, may this time be a period of rest, reflection and renewal as you lead the nation during the COVID-19 national emergency
President Trump tweets that he and the first lady are entering quarantine
The deaths of fire, law enforcement, corrections and EMS leaders and personnel will have a decades-long impact on department operations, safety and capability
The proposed emergency amendment comes a week after the health department issued a memo ordering all unlicensed fire departments to immediately cease BLS services
Three planes built between 1927 and 1957 will fly five first responders and healthcare professionals in a parade over Washington State landmarks and medical facilities
Operation Warp Speed – boldly going where no mass inoculation has gone before
3 takeaways from our recent survey on EMS influenza and COVID-19 vaccination policies, practices and perceptions
EMS providers weigh in on influenza and COVID-19 vaccination mandates, ethical obligation and whether they will be vaccinated
Gaston County EMS leadership embarked on a plan to equip every transport-capable ALS unit in Gaston County with a ventilator
The bill includes $436B in funds to help state, local governments avoid layoffs of first responders, teachers and healthcare workers
Gov. Tom Wolf said the state is ready to supply sufficient PPE to first responders and healthcare workers this fall
Share your thoughts on frontline providers’ ethical obligation to be vaccinated for COVID-19
“Get Your Mask On,” which parodies “Get Your Shine On” by Florida Georgia Line, was written by Naperville Firefighter-Paramedic Billy Croft to lift spirits and promote healthy habits
Learn more about optimizing EMS efficiency through dynamic deployment models
Salem Fire Chief Rick Todd, who was also a paramedic, was a well-known and respected member of the local fire and EMS community
Share your strategies for infection control, staffing and equipping personnel for future pandemics
From fewer volunteers to fewer calls and underfunding spanning years, rural EMS operations are in need of a change if they’re to survive
The available data on EMS COVID-19 fatalities points to an increased risk over other healthcare and public safety personnel
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- Calif. county stops sending ambulances to all 911 calls due to COVID-19 surge
- LA ambulance crews told not to transport patients who have little chance of survival
- Georgia EMS crews near ‘breaking point’
- City in Okla. will have police transport medics to free up ambulances
- Colo. ends ‘crisis’ care that gave cover to hospitals, EMS stretched by COVID