EMS Briefing: Friday, October 2, 2026

A Mercy Air medevac helicopter crash off the coast of California has resulted in two fatalities with one crew member still missing.

FEMA has allocated over $648 million in AFG and SAFER grants to support fire and EMS organizations across the United States.

A public access AED was successfully used to save a man's life in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

Paramedics were called to transport a Tennessee inmate to the hospital following a failed lethal injection attempt.

Utilizing 15-lead ECGs can improve the detection of posterior and right ventricular myocardial infarctions in the prehospital setting.

A new study highlights a significant decline in CPR quality during the patient handoff from EMS to the emergency department team.

Research indicates an association between early prehospital antibiotic administration and reduced 28-day mortality in sepsis patients.

Phenobarbital is presented as an effective alternative treatment for managing severe alcohol withdrawal in the emergency setting.

Addressing workplace culture and downtime management is critical to mitigating the ongoing EMS staffing crisis.

Innovative agencies are leveraging AI and virtual reality to enhance clinical skills and combat provider burnout.

A Wyoming county has secured a last-minute $5.4 million contract extension to maintain critical ambulance services.

Salem, New Hampshire, has been awarded $281,000 in federal funding to advance local paramedic training programs.

A new analysis suggests insurance companies are undermining the No Surprises Act's independent dispute resolution process.

California's governor vetoed a bill for crisis stabilization units, citing concerns they could be mistaken for full emergency departments.

A lawsuit alleges an Alabama sheriff misappropriated millions intended for public services while the county's EMS system faced collapse.

The Annapolis city council has approved a new firefighter contract despite political contention and one member's abstention.