EMS Expo: Final Editor`s Blog

Friday: the Final Day

The end of EMS Expo 2006 was marked Friday by a funny and inspiring closing keynote address by Drs. Ed Racht and Baxter Larmon on the evolution of EMS, why we need to embrace change, and what changes they would personally like to see in the future.

Their overall message was that EMS is a journey, not a destination. "Love the journey," Racht said, "because we're never going to get there." The session was extremely entertaining and made a wonderful send-off after a full week of EMS training and exhibits. Read more about their presentation online.

This year's Expo was also marked Thursday night with the festive EMS Expo Vintage Vegas Party on the pool deck at the Las Vegas Hilton. The party included a live band, a ton of food, and showgirls posing for photos with attendees. It was clear the party was on a roll when the dancing and beach ball tossing got underway.

Classes and exhibit hall hours continued until Friday afternoon. After those events were over, however, the NAEMT Annual Meeting remained in swing. Friday evening marked their reception and awards dinner, and was set to mark the passing of leadership from outgoing NAEMT President Ken Bouvier to incoming NAEMT President Jerry Johnston. We wish them both the best and look forward to ongoing relationships with both of them in the future.

Thank you to all of our readers who attended EMS Expo 2006 and/or followed it this week online. Additional features from this week's events, including more news, training videos and podcasts, are in production and will continue to appear on EMSResponder.com.

On a personal note, our staff was glad to meet so many more of our readers and our partners in the industry this week, and we look forward to EMS Expo 2007.

Thursday:

Several organizations had projects underway at Thursday's EMS Expo 2006 in the exhibit hall, including the American College of Emergency Physicians. The ACEP creates the annual EMS Week program materials, and they took advantage of this gathering of hundreds of diverse caregivers to help prepare for their 2007 program.

They were looking for a variety of faces and good role models, representatives said, and pulled about 100 people into their booth in order to take their portraits. These portraits will be used to create a montage of the faces of EMS, and will appear on program materials for EMS Week 2007.

Although the theme for next year's program has not been formally announced, ACEP staff shared it with us today for EMSResponder.com. The theme will be, "Ordinary people, extraordinary service," a theme intended to celebrate the individuals of EMS.

Another event on the show floor Thursday was a presentation by Demers Ambulances as they formally turned over the keys to their 13,000th ambulance to a long-standing customer of theirs, the Ottawa Paramedic Service. Company president Yves Demers transferred the vehicle to Ottawa paramedic Robert Davidson during a small celebration at the Demers booth. The location certainly garnered the company additional attention for their milestone event.

Among other industry news at the Expo this week, Emergency Filtration Products, Inc. launched their Emergency Life-support Ventilation and Intubation System, or E.L.V.I.S. More information on this emergency resuscitation system is available in their online press release.

Of course, a star attraction at Thursday's exhibit hall was the "Tricks of the Trade" presentation by NAEMT President Ken Bouvier, at the Massimo demonstration area. Ken has been a central character at the EMS Expo, which is co-located with the NAEMT Annual Meeting, and this presentation truly gives him a platform to be as hilarious and informative as he can be as he shares clever techniques and uses for common equipment.

But, anyone who knows the NAEMT president knows that seldom happens.

Bouvier said taking a little time before the shift begins can make things go much easier. He suggested carrying a spare O-ring and tank key on a retractable strap. In fact, the only way to keep track of your scissors and punches is to keep them on a short leash.

"You want to use my scissors? Sure, go ahead," he said grasping the scissors as far as the cord would allow.

He unrolled a bandage containing a lancet, alcohol wipe, and a band-aid -- his quick glucose kit. Film canisters are good for carrying a variety of stuff including batteries, spare change and other vital necessities.

The session was fast and funny. "I was driving an ambulance one day, and saw another driver wearing a non-rebreather mask. I thought what the heck? The paramedic had told the reluctant patient who was afraid. I'll wear the mask, the driver will wear the mask and you should wear the mask..."

Of the many classroom sessions in progress today, one that got some particular lively reactions was," Advances in ACLS & CPR: What Do We Do Now?" by Keith Wesley, MD.

This presentation included a funny and fascinating account of the history of resusciatation efforts, an explanation of how the industry has arrived at its current standards for CPR, and what questions remain unanswered, such as the role of intubation in the prehospital setting. Watch for more online soon about this presentation and the issues addressed.

This week has gone fast and Friday marks the final day of EMS Expo 2006. As many attendees have said, it would really have taken weeks to see it all. We hope you're getting to see the presentations and the products of most interest to you, and look forward to making the most of this Friday.

Wednesday: Full Conference Begins

EMS Expo and Fire Rescue 2006 got into full swing this Wednesday with the opening of the exhibit halls and the keynote presentations by FEMA Director R. David Paulison and NAEMT President Ken Bouvier.

Paulison, who took over the beleaguered Federal Emergency Management Agency after it suffered scathing criticism last year for problems in the Hurricane Katrina response, was well received. Based on the applause from the crowd, it was clear that his sentiments and his goals were in tune with those present. Those goals included more support and recognition of EMS, the "most utilized and least recognized" component of disaster response."

You can read more about Paulison's address in our news article.

It appears that Paulison is already gaining the confidence of the emergency services -- especially that of Ken Bouvier, whose hometown is New Orleans. Ken said he has personally seen the agency's improved and expanded role in preparation for this year's hurricane season. He said NAEMT is reaching out to FEMA and offered his full support.

Ken was also warmly received during his portion of the keynote address, as he recounted the struggle EMS providers have endured in New Orleans over the past year. His presentation included a photo history of EMS personnel and equipment, showing how bad it got for them last year and how far they have come since.

It was also a busy day in the exhibit halls (both for EMS Expo and Firehouse Las Vegas) as visitors viewed apparatus and product demonstrations, handled rescue equipment, and browsed educational materials, EMS and fire novelties, and more.

Thank you for following the EMS Expo updates online, and check back soon for more news and features!

Monday-Tuesday: Pre-conference

The Pre-conference of EMS Expo and the National Association of EMTs Annual Meeting opened this Monday in Las Vegas.

The all day hands-on training sessions were in progress, and set up was in motion for the exhibit hall and the classroom sessions to begin Wednesday. NAEMT had their Board of Directors meeting, and we met up with them afterward to catch up on their latest news.

Most notably, it was a bittersweet day for the association and for outgoing president Ken Bouvier. He addressed the group for one of his final times as their president, regarding his upcoming hand-off of leadership this week to incoming president Jerry Johnston. Ken has been surrounded by well-wishers wherever he goes.

It is clear that he will be greatly missed as the association's president, but that he won't go too far. He says he hopes to continue serving the association in another capacity, and is offering much heartfelt support to Jerry. The two have worked together closely, as Jerry actually served as president in Ken's place for several months last year after Hurricane Katrina, when Ken had to commit all of his energy to serving his hometown of New Orleans.

We were able to sit down Monday with Ken and Jerry to talk about the hand-off and NAEMT's vision for the next two years, which will appear online in a separate news article.

Aside from the change in leadership, Ken said the NAEMT topics Monday included their endorsement of better preparedness at scholastic athletic events.

NAEMT Board Member Connie Meyer, who has been working closely with the National Athletic Trainers Association, said it's vital that at every event trained personnel are ready with the proper equipment.

Statistics show that having an AED on site has made a difference, and Ms. Meyer said she hopes school officials realize the importance of the life-saving equipment. "Are they expensive, yes. But they are well worth it."

The NATA specifically suggested that every school or college develop a written preparedness plan with all major players involved, including EMS. They specifically addressed issues of sudden cardiac arrest, and the importance of having staff trained in CPR and the use of an AED.

"They need to be prepared at practice or at a game. There have been several incidents of sudden cardiac arrest throughout the country," Ms. Meyer said.

Endorsing the NATA recommendation is viewed as a win-win situation for everyone.

NAEMT also talked Monday about their following of all major meetings across the country on this year's Institute of Medicine report on the problems with U.S. emergency care. Ken said they are participating at those meetings to emphasize how funding and recognition of EMS will benefit emergency care.

NAEMT was set to have their Board of Governors meeting Tuesday, where Ken was excited to be expecting representatives from numerous major public safety agencies that are now sharing dialogue with NAEMT and working to coordinate efforts. We'll have more on that meeting as well.

Thank you for reading about this week's events at EMS Expo and the NAEMT Annual Meeting. Check back for more coverage coming this week including news, blogs, podcasts and video reports.