Newsletters/August 20, 2026

EMS Briefing: Thursday, August 20, 2026

August 20, 2026
published
Prehospital Academy

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Good morning and welcome to your daily briefing. Here are the top stories and research impacting prehospital medicine today.

šŸ“° EMS News Recap
Congo’s Ebola Outbreak Reaches 5,000 Cases as It Outpaces Response Efforts at Unprecedented Speed
JEMS

The Ebola outbreak in Congo has surpassed 5,000 cases, with transmission rates currently outpacing public health response efforts.

Human Error, FAA Oversight Gaps Eyed in Fatal Philly Medical Jet Crash
JEMS

Investigators are focusing on potential human error and gaps in FAA oversight as contributing factors in a fatal medical jet crash.

Community rallies around Minn. paramedic critically injured in crash
EMS1

The local community is providing significant support for a Minnesota paramedic who was critically injured in a recent vehicle crash.

Israeli Military Launches Criminal Probes Into Killings of 15 Palestinian Paramedics, Patients
JEMS

The Israeli military has initiated criminal investigations into the deaths of 15 Palestinian paramedics and patients during recent conflicts.

šŸ“‹ Clinical Medicine Updates
Study found artery damage in adults in their 20s, highlighting need for early cardiovascular risk assessment
American Heart Association

New AHA research reveals evidence of arterial damage in adults as young as their 20s, emphasizing the need for early risk screening.

Performance of Termination-of-Resuscitation Rules in Foreign Body Airway Obstruction-Related Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Prehospital Emergency Care

A new study evaluates the effectiveness of standard TOR rules for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests caused by foreign body airway obstruction.

Divergence of Care: A Palliative Paradigm for Consultations With Patients and Relatives
JEMS

This article proposes a palliative care-based framework for EMS providers to use when consulting with patients and families about end-of-life care.

Qualitative Investigation of EMS Provider Experiences with a Flow-Regulating Safety Device for Manual Ventilation
International Journal of Paramedicine

Researchers qualitatively assessed EMS provider feedback on a new flow-regulating device designed to improve the safety of manual ventilations.

šŸ“ˆ Operational & Leadership Updates
EMS staffing shortages demand technology that frees crews for 911 calls
EMS1

Technology adoption is presented as a key strategy to mitigate staffing shortages by maximizing crew availability for emergencies.

Why unified command succeeds or fails before the first unit arrives
EMS1

Successful unified command is largely determined by pre-planning, training, and interagency relationships established before an incident occurs.

Stakeholder Acceptance of Drones in Prehospital Emergency Care
International Journal of Paramedicine

A new study explores the attitudes and acceptance levels of various stakeholders regarding the integration of drones into prehospital care.

Providence (RI) Fire Department Expands EMS Capacity, Adds Ambulance
JEMS

The Providence Fire Department has added a new ambulance to its fleet to expand EMS capacity and improve system response capabilities.

āš–ļø Legislative Updates
MD Counties Struggle to Fund Medics as State Shifts Costs to Locals
JEMS

Maryland counties are experiencing increased financial pressure as the state shifts more of the cost burden for EMS funding to local governments.

Lifeline for Rural Hospitals Faces Test Under ā€˜Big Beautiful’ Law
JEMS

A law intended to support rural hospitals is now facing challenges that could impact the financial viability of these critical facilities.