First Arriving

Dave is an EMS provider based in New York City for over 20 years and has been blogging for over 10 years. He is experienced in all facets of EMS Service Management, Emergency Management, and specializes in Event Medical Services. He maintains a blog at DavidKonig.com, is an EMS1.com Columnist, and will be authoring on all things social (including Social Media) here at The Social Medic.

FDNY Unveils ‘Beyond The Call’ EMS Week 2019 Poster

In preparation for EMS Week 2019 that starts Sunday May 19th, The Fire Department of New York City unveiled their annual EMS Week poster. In keeping with this year’s national theme, Beyond the Call, the FDNY portrayed EMTs… on a call. FDNY EMS Week 2019 Poster “Beyond The Call” The poster features FDNY EMT Ellis …

FDNY Unveils ‘Beyond The Call’ EMS Week 2019 Poster Read More »

JEMS Ceasing Print Publication Mirrors The Industry It Covers

Final Print Issue of JEMS, June 2018 After a years of rumors regarding it’s demise, last week it was made official that JEMS will cease printing magazines but will continue offering online and electronic media. As pointed out by JEMS Editor-In-Chief A.J. Heightman, “…we’ve decided to advance with the times…”. This change is not shocking. …

JEMS Ceasing Print Publication Mirrors The Industry It Covers Read More »

Valuing EMS Professionals Like Firefighters

Yesterday an editorial column appeared in The Chief, the long time propaganda machine dedicated to civil servants in the New York City region. The opinion column is titled Value Them Like Firefighters: Improve Salaries For EMS Workers and is authored by Kevin G. Munjal, MD, MPH, MSCR. The article addresses the notion of the “promotion” …

Valuing EMS Professionals Like Firefighters Read More »

Addressing Fatigue In EMS

The National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) recently released their evidence-based guidelines for Fatigue Risk Management. The distribution of these guidelines and associated materials concludes phase 1 in their Fatigue in EMS project. Here are their top recommendations from the infographic provided in the materials: Quite honestly I found the full text an interesting …

Addressing Fatigue In EMS Read More »

NYC Fast Food Minimum Wage Is Now More Than Most EMTs Starting Rate

Today December 31, 2017 workers in the Fast Food Industry in New York City received a minimum wage increase to $13.50 per hour. Other minimum wage workers, including EMTs, are at $13.00 per hour. Think about that for a minute… …let it sink in… … and suddenly that application for a fast food restaurant if …

NYC Fast Food Minimum Wage Is Now More Than Most EMTs Starting Rate Read More »

DC FEMS Nerfs Pulse Point App After It Highlights Failed Standards In Call Dispatch

Fox 5 DC has a story regarding the department’s implementation of the Pulse Point App that has highlighted the call receipt to resource dispatch standard they are failing to meet, and the department’s subsequent decision to nerf the apps effectiveness. The national Call Received to Resource Dispatch standard is sixty (60) seconds. Fox 5 DC‘s …

DC FEMS Nerfs Pulse Point App After It Highlights Failed Standards In Call Dispatch Read More »

Cardiac Arrest Dangers Highlighted To Public After Rocker Tom Petty Dies

I saw the first image on Facebook, a headline from the NY Daily News proclaiming that Tom Petty’s death draws attention to dangers of cardiac arrest. I literally smacked my head when I read the line at the end of the article: But with emergency medical attention, cardiac arrest can be reversed. When used within …

Cardiac Arrest Dangers Highlighted To Public After Rocker Tom Petty Dies Read More »

FDNY Captain Under Fire For Honesty About Being A Firefighter

FDNY Captain Paul Washington is being criticized after giving a recruitment presentation where he provided an honest and realistic view of what being a firefighter is like. He is under fire by co-workers and the NY Post who published an article titled FDNY captain claims firefighters ‘do not run into burning buildings’. This is a …

FDNY Captain Under Fire For Honesty About Being A Firefighter Read More »

EMS Staffing Problems In South Dakota Not Solved By Lower Standards

Last year two states lowered their ambulance staffing standards, Wisconsin and South Dakota, due to EMS personnel shortages and recruitment issues. An Associated Press story that ran in both The Tribune and The Charlotte Observer notes that the lowered standards have not solved the staffing and recruitment problems in South Dakota. That story is based …

EMS Staffing Problems In South Dakota Not Solved By Lower Standards Read More »