A new COVID-19 resource page on EMS.gov provides easy to find links to the most relevant and up-to-date information from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NHTSA Office of EMS and other Federal agencies involved in the response to the pandemic. This includes guidance for treating potential COVID-19 patients, information on PPE use and supplies and processes for handling healthcare providers who have been exposed to coronavirus.
This is an overview of the new features and training session on using them, as well as existing Academy Analytics features, to monitor your calls taken using the MPDS EIDS tool and/or Protocol 36. Geared toward those who have Academy Analytics, but is open to all.
Executive Summary: For those Public Safety Agencies reporting an employee’s possible exposure, and expecting notification of a positive COVID-19 disease result from the hospital or public health officer, the expanded Ryan White Act of 2009 update has been published by NIOSH/CDC and will address this issue. Furthermore, emergency response employees covered by the Act have been defined. Full Report: The CDC/NIOSH has updated the Infectious Diseases and Circumstances Relevant to Notification of Emergency Response Employees: Implementation of Sec.2695 of the Ryan White...
Emerging Disease Surveillance and Triage using the MPDS ProQA software Click here to view the recording. Click here for a pdf of the slides. Mentioned during webinar: Link to Academy Analytics COVID-19 features, click here. Link to webinar on Monday, March 30th, about using Academy Analytics for COVID-19, click here. We will post the Q&A if we receive any more answers that were not covered in the webinar. This presentation covers the various software tools available in the ProQA-medical software program for managing the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as surveillance approaches...
FirstWatch Medical Director, Silvia Verdugo Puts COVID-19 in Perspective in JEMS Interview
With new funding from Congress, the NIH has launched a website with training and educational resources for workers confronting COVID-19 in the workplace, including emergency first responders, hospital workers, and others at risk due to possible exposure to the virus via their work assignments. This training will be part of the already established Worker Training Program. Use this link for specifics about the COVID-19 training program and links to other training programs and resources. National Institutes of Health
Canadian Paramedic Services National Conversation led by Darren Sandbeck, Senior Provincial Director & Chief Paramedic, Alberta Health Services Emergency Medical Services This conversation was in the tradition originally started with a conference call among Canadian EMS leaders sharing information during SARS. This highly successful information and best practices sharing approach was continued, with help from FirstWatch, during the H1N1 and Ebola outbreaks. This session was led by Darren Sandbeck. Click here to view the recording. Click here for a pdf of the slides. Situational Awareness for All Public Safety...
EMS1 article - Our friend Catherine Counts PhD from Seattle shares data visualization resources to help manage the response to our pandemic.
EMS1 article by Rob Lawrence - Communication, PPE and decontamination strategies highlighted the 4th FirstWatch and Paramedic Chiefs of Canada COVID-19 webinar
This joint webinar of PCC, AIMHI, IAED, NAEMT, CAA, and FirstWatch was the 4th in a series. We were proud to see that over 1,300 people registered for it. With Matt Zavadsky from MedStar moderating, our presenters for Solano County, California were Dr. Bela Matyas from Solano County Public Health, Ted Selby from Solano County EMS, and Jimmy Pierson from Medic Ambulance. They provided incredibly useful and practical information from their ongoing experience providing care for COVID-19 patients quarantined at Travis Air Base. One example of insight shared is how they balanced the needs of the community for EMS coverage with the...
EMS1 article by Mike Taigman - Coronavirus spread in an already busy flu season calls staffing contingency plans and a commitment to hygiene and PPE
The intention of the COVID-19 Process/Policy Template is to provide agencies, medical directors, or others who want to utilize it, an outline/template on which to build an agency-specific policy/protocol to address COVID-19. This includes suggestions for development and/or oversight committees, outside partners and stakeholders, as well as preparation and process for EMS workers who provide best practice care for patients as well as providing for the protection of pre-hospital providers and medical director(s). Its application is totally up to the user. This document...
Executive Summary: Although the flu season is hopefully going to continue to decline over the next month, it is still something to watch closely. Flu activity decreased with hospitalizations for children & young adults higher than other recent flu seasons. Pediatric deaths total 125 for the season, with 20 of those deaths reported this week. This season is considered severe. Also, with COVID-19 now in different states and communities within the U.S., some with community spread, everyone must realize that the...
WSB-TV - Article and Video: Two dozen emergency workers in Washington state are off the job as they are being monitored for possible exposure to the coronavirus. (KIRO7.com)
Executive Summary: A revised Criteria to Guide Evaluation of PUI for COVID-19 and Footnotes have been developed by the CDC to better define what currently makes a person fall into ‘A Person Under Investigation Status’ (aka Case Definition). It consists of an Introduction, the Criteria Chart, List of Affected Geographic Areas of Widespread or Sustained Community Spread, and Footnotes to clarify specific application. Download the Full Update
Executive Summary: The COVID-19 outbreak is rapidly evolving into a global event which potentially puts people all over the world at risk for being infected by it. Although it not as lethal as SARS-CoV or MER-CoV, it does, in some countries, seem to have very efficient sustained person to person transmission, which requires careful monitoring and updated recommendations and guidance to hopefully prevent a pandemic. Today’s report includes a Situation Update from both the CDC and PHAC, as well as...
Executive Summary: The CDC considers this COVID-19 outbreak to be, “an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. The CDC/NIOSH have published a webpage with links to resources for the protection of workers to be used by a variety of industries. Download the pdf
Executive Summary: Although eyes are still focused on COVID-19, Flu activity remains a far greater threat to North America at this time. Flu activity decreased with hospitalizations for children & young adults higher than other recent flu seasons. Pediatric deaths total 105 for the season, with 13 of those deaths reported this week. Adult deaths are below the epidemic threshold. This season is considered a severe. Download the Full Update
This Paramedic Chiefs of Canada (PCC) webinar is presented in conjunction with the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED), and FirstWatch. View Webinar Recording View Webinar Slides (PDF Format) Additional Resources Mentioned During the Webinar: COVID-19 Update 2/25/20 Questions and Answers Description: This webinar was the 3rd COVID-19 webinar and provided an update on COVID-19, specifically as it relates to emergency call centers, paramedic and EMS services, and other responders. Also presented, the pediatric implications and potential EMS system impacts to support advanced planning. Like most disaster pre-planning...
Executive Summary: Although most eyes are laser-focused on the COVID-19, Flu activity remains a far greater threat to North America and other countries outside the China region at this time. Flu activity increased again with hospitalizations for children & young adults higher than other recent flu seasons. Pediatric deaths total 92 for the season, with 14 of those deaths reported this week although adult deaths are below the epidemic threshold. This season is considered a bad one as far as numbers...
