Volume 1; Issue 4                                                  November 13, 2024

On the Horizon

Crash Responder Safety Week: November 18-22, 2024

 “Responders Ahead! Reduce Your Speed As You Proceed”

Crash Responder Safety Week is an annual event that joins fire, EMS, rescue, law enforcement, and transportation personnel together to enhance public awareness on the importance of safe driving near incident scenes. Learn more on the week's messaging focuses and resources available below.

CRSW - National Operations Center of Excellence

National Rural Health Day: November 21, 2024

National Rural Health Day is honored to highlight the efforts providers, communities, and organizations have taken and are continuing to take to address the healthcare needs of rural communities. 

Industry Insights

NEMSQA Measure Update Announcement: Minor Corrections Posted 10/16/2024


The following corrections were made to the 2024 NEMSQA Measures Report on 10/16/2024.  


  1. Airway-01: Successful First Endotracheal Intubation Attempt without Hypotension and without Hypoxia
  2. Airway-05: Adequate Oxygen Saturation Achieved Before Endotracheal Intubation Attempts
  3. Airway-18: Waveform Capnography Confirmation of Invasive Airway

Marburg Virus Disease: New EMS Guidelines: Revised October 4, 2024


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform clinicians and health departments about the Republic of Rwanda’s first confirmed outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) with 36 laboratory confirmed cases and 11 deaths reported as of October 2, 2024, including at least 19 cases in healthcare workers. 


CDC Health Alert Network Communications


Background

Marburg Virus Disease is a rare but highly fatal viral hemorrhagic fever caused by infection with either Marburg virus or Ravn virus. Both Marburg virus and Ravn virus are within the family which also includes Ebola viruses. A person infected with the Marburg virus is not contagious before symptoms appear. Symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal symptoms, or unexplained bleeding. The virus is spread through direct contact with broken skin or mucous membranes with the body fluids of someone who is sick with MVD, or who recently died from their infection. These body fluids include blood, urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, amniotic fluid, or semen. People can also contract MVD if they have contact with infected animals, or with needles, or with other objects or surfaces contaminated with the virus. Marburg virus is not spread through airborne transmission.

Revised Guidelines

Impact of Qualitative Research


"Highlighting the significance of qualitative research, Dr. Barr remarks, 'Numbers work well for testing theories, but when it comes to generating new ones, the hard work of interviews, coding and theming is essential.'"


Learn more about how Professor Bram Buffee, PhD, EMT-P & Dr. Nigel Barr, PhD, RN, RP discuss the impact of COVID-19 and the importance of capturing qualitative research for greater insights on healthcare practices and challenges: EMS Research Podcast: Paramedic Perspectives on COVID Through Qualitative Research - JEMS: EMS, Emergency Medical Services - Training, Paramedic, EMT News


Full Podcast Here

Full Circle

Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service paramedics in Rochester, Minnesota responded to a patient experiencing a heart attack only to discover their former teacher in need.


Read & watch more about this story.


Stay In The Know


This section provides Arkansas-specific updates & notable information from past newsletters. 

Submit Your NEMSIS v.3.5 Data

Submit your EMS activation v.3.5 data to the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS). States have until the end of 2024 to make the transition, and nearly every state is on track to do so. NEMSIS v.3.5 introduces the NEMSIS Universally Unique Identifier (UUID), which is created automatically with every v3.5 ePCR. This will enhance data exchange easier allowing for the direct linkage of EMS, crash and trauma data nationally without requiring any personally identifiable information.

Featured Members - AAA Stars of Life

Visit 2024 Archives - Stars of Life to read more about many ArAA members nominated as American Ambulance Association Stars of Life. These individuals have been honored and recognized at the Stars of Life event in Washington, D.C. held November 10 - 13.  

2025 Arkansas Legislative Session Dates & Deadlines

2025 Session Important Dates.pdf

The Health Care Landscape in Arkansas & the 2024 Election

Arkansas health care landscape against the backdrop of the 2024 election can be found here: Arkansas Fact Sheet

2024 Election Results

National Registry's Recertification Window Opened October 1, 2024 For EMTs, AEMTs, & Paramedics

Learn more here: National Registry's Recertification Window Opens Today For EMTs, AEMTs, and Paramedics | National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (nremt.org)

Arkansas Provider Courses: Availability & Registration   

Arkansas Respiratory Virus Update

Weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations - Arkansas DHS Report

The data is updated by the state weekly and can be accessed here.

Respiratory Virus - % of Emergency Department Visits - CDC Data

The data is updated by the CDC weekly and can be accessed here.

Upcoming Events

November 10-13, 2024 - Stars of Life in Washington, D.C.

November 15, 2024 - Legislative: Pre-filing Bills & Resolutions 

November 21, 2024 - Legislative: Pre-Session Budget Hearings

November 21, 2024 - National Rural Health Day (Learn More)

November 18-22, 2024 - Crash Responder Safety Week (Learn More)

November 28, 2024 - Happy Thanksgiving!

December 11, 2024 - Arkansas Fire Protection Service Board Monthly Meeting in North Little Rock, AR (Learn More)

December 13, 2024 - Feasibility Study for Certain Health Care Legislation introduced by a member of the General Assembly

December 25, 2024 - Merry Christmas!

Resources

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ArAA Mission

"The ArAA is committed to promoting excellence in emergency medical services and mobile health care transportation. Our members work collaboratively to find better ways to serve others."

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Arkansas Ambulance Association  

P.O. Box 11330 El Dorado, AR 71730

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