Life is built from small moments—coffee before sunrise, sideline cheers, a hand squeezed at the right time. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can happen to anyone, anywhere, interrupting those moments without warning. Our latest video shows us what’s worth protecting and how being prepared can help. We hope it sparks conversations about readiness in your home, school, workplace and community, and encourages ... (Full Story & Photos)

The Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of EMS, has released EMSIB 2025-11 to strengthen roadway safety education for emergency medical services personnel. Beginning January 1, 2027, all candidates completing initial EMS certification courses—at the EMR, EMT, AEMT, or Paramedic level—through Pennsylvania-accredited educational institutes must complete a 4-hour Traffic Incident Management System ... (Full Story)

The Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of EMS, has issued EMSIB 2025-10 to clarify requirements for AEMT and Paramedic students enrolled in educational programs located outside the Commonwealth. The bulletin outlines the process by which out-of-state programs may request approval for Pennsylvania-based clinical or field rotations, ensuring full compliance with the Pennsylvania EMS Act, associated ... (Full Story & Photos)

Harrisburg, PA – Today, State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook announced the application period for the 2025 Act 13 Unconventional Gas Well Fund (UGWF) grant is now open. The online application will remain open until Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 4:00 PM. The UGWF grant provides grants for volunteer and career fire, emergency medical services (EMS), and rescue companies in counties throughout Commonwealth ... (Full Story)

EMSIB 2025-09, issued October 1, 2025, by the Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of EMS, introduces a new requirement for FBI fingerprint-based criminal history background checks for individuals seeking initial EMS certification or reinstatement of an expired certification. Effective January 1, 2026, all such applicants must submit a background check dated within 90 days of application, with ... (Full Story)

“Who’s Coming for Us?” — A Fictional Story, A Very Real Crisis

Though the recent article “Who’s Coming for Us?” by Carly Strong is fictional, the situation it describes is alarmingly real for many communities across our region. Ambulance services are disappearing. Response times are growing longer. Families are being forced to face medical emergencies without trained help.

We urge you to take a ... (Full Story & Photos)

Preparing for your agency’s ambulance inspection is a structured process, with comprehensive resources readily accessible on our website: www.emmco.org. Here’s a brief guide to navigating your inspection successfully:

1. Utilize Inspection Checklists

Inspection checklists are invaluable tools that detail the specific criteria we will be looking for at the inspection. Ensure your agency’s compliance ... (Full Story)

From The Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania

A Call To Action

In response to Pennsylvania’s EMS crisis and the June 2023 Senate hearing, the Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania (AAP) formed an EMS Workforce and Solutions Group to unite stakeholders in strengthening the EMS system. Participants included AAP Board members, regional council representatives, Bureau of EMS staff, and state legislators. ... (Full Story & Photos)