EMS & Disaster Preparedness Resources

ACEP and ASA Issue Joint Statement on Ketamine Use

August 26, 2020 - The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) announced a collaborative statement on the use of ketamine in prehospital settings.

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that is widely used in the emergency department and in prehospital care for effective pain management, sedation, the control of delirium in acute psychotic emergencies and drug intoxications. Its safe use in prehospital care is dependent on an appropriate medical assessment by a paramedic with medical direction guiding appropriate dosing, monitoring as soon as feasible, and timely transport to an emergency department for further assessment and treatment.

ACEP and ASA firmly oppose the use of ketamine or any other sedative/hypnotic agent to chemically incapacitate someone solely for a law enforcement purpose and not for a legitimate medical reason.

EMS Week 50^th Anniversary

We are excited to share that this year is the 50^th anniversary of EMS Week. The anniversary is highlighted on the National EMS Week website, which contains a planning checklist and downloadable logos, tools, and resources designed to help agencies organize, plan, and celebrate EMS Week in their own neighborhoods and communities.

The EMS Strong campaign seeks to celebrate, unify and inspire the men and women of our nation’s emergency medical services. EMS Strong brings together associations, EMS services, sponsors, and national media to honor the dedication of EMS practitioners nationwide.

Learn More about EMS Strong

EMS Week

EMS Resources Documents 

• Strategy for a National EMS Culture of Safety
• Mobile Integrated Healthcare/Community Paramedicine Primer
• EMS Contracts Evaluation Toolkit
• EMS Stroke Care Destinations Decisions
• Ethical Questions in EMS: Controversies and Recommendations  
• Guidance Document Regarding the Pre-Hospital Use of Tranexamic Acid for Injured Patients

Stroke Education for EMS Professionals

ACEP, the National Stroke Association, and Genentech have partnered to develop a FREE stroke education course for EMS professionals. The course covers the basics of stroke, prehospital assessment, stroke systems of care, and case studies. 

EMS educators may also download the slides and use them in their EMS education. 

Access the course today at www.EMS4Stroke.com.

Disaster Preparedness Resources
and Additional Resources

• Terrorism Injuries: Information, Dissemination and Exchange
• Disaster Response and Biological/Chemical Terrorism
• EMT/Paramedics Working in the Emergency Department Survey
• Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Preparedness Final Report
• Positioning America's Emergency Health Care System to Respond to Acts of Terrorism
• Provision of Emergency Medical Care for Crowds
• The Role of State Medical Direction in the Comprehensive Emergency Medical Services System
• Trauma Care Systems 2003
• Hyperactive Delirium White Paper