New EMS Resources from NHTSA’s Office of EMS

EMS is a vital component of the nation’s transportation and healthcare systems. NHTSA's Office of EMS (OEMS) supports the constant growth and improvement of EMS care, from the implementation of new clinical interventions like prehospital blood transfusion, to the use of EMS data through the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) standard.

The Importance of EMS in Reducing Deaths from Trauma

EMS plays an important role in the effort to reduce death and disability, including those as a result of motor vehicle crashes. The DOT acknowledges the important roles of 911 and EMS in saving lives and treating injuries from crashes. Each year, approximately 40,000 people die as a result of a crash and the five-pronged Safe System Approach helps move us toward the goal of zero deaths on our nation’s roadways. Beyond making vehicles, roads, people and speeds safer, the Safe System Approach shows that post-crash care from 911 and EMS is key to saving lives. 

Post-crash care emphasizes the importance of preventative measures that EMS and 911 play a role in, but also on the care provided to injured patients to keep their injuries from becoming fatal. In 2022, 42,514 people died in traffic crashes in the United States; but of those, 42% were still alive when first responders arrived.2 

Effective countermeasures can make the difference between life and death in post-crash care. Highway safety leaders, EMS, municipal planning organizations and public safety stakeholders must work together to find resources to support projects that reduce deaths from motor vehicle crashes.

Prehospital Blood Programs Reduce Trauma Deaths

One important step to improving post-crash care is the ability to administer blood products at the site of the incident. Severe bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death among trauma patients. With prehospital blood transfusion, EMS teams can dramatically increase a patient’s chances of survival. In fact, research shows that early transfusion can reduce trauma-related deaths by up to 37%.3

With these statistics in mind, EMS agencies nationwide are implementing prehospital blood programs to make this clinical intervention a standard of care, resulting in lives saved. In Cobb County, GA, Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services (CCFES) recently administered red blood cells and fresh plasma to a critical trauma patient in a Puckett EMS ambulance before they arrived at the level one trauma center. The Canton Fire Department saved the life of a traffic collision victim before he was rushed to Boston Medical Center for surgery. In Florida last year, a patient received a whole blood transfusion from Orange County EMS at the scene of an incident. By bringing blood transfusions to the point of injury, EMS teams were able to act faster, stabilize critical patients sooner and ultimately save more lives.

2025 EMS Week Blood Drive

This year’s EMS Week theme, “We Care. For Everyone,” reminds us that EMS Week is a time to engage with communities to address important topics relating to public health and safety, such as supporting our nation’s blood supply. Hosting a blood drive for EMS Week highlights clinicians’ and EMS agencies’ life-saving work, while also raising awareness about the importance of prehospital blood transfusions. 

The 2025 EMS Week Blood Drive initiative seeks to boost the national blood supply and educate the public about blood shortages and the importance of blood donations. It emphasizes the role EMS clinicians have in community health and emergency response and gives us another chance to talk about the life-saving power of blood donation and transfusion–whether it's in the field or in a hospital.

Federal Funding Opportunities for Post Crash Care Improvement in EMS and 911

The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program funds regional, local and tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries. The SS4A competitive grant program supports $5 billion in appropriated funds over 5 years, 2022-2026. The fiscal year (FY) 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is currently open, with a deadline for applications on June 26, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (ET). 

Safe Streets and Roads for All grants are an opportunity for EMS agencies to partner with community leaders to identify how joint efforts can improve safety for drivers, passengers, cyclists, pedestrians and others. 

How to get involved:

1. Start by reviewing the current list of grant recipients to find out if there are existing planning grants already awarded in your area. If there are, make contact with grant recipients, introduce yourself, learn more about the grant award and offer suggestions on ways EMS can contribute critical information to the planning process. 
2. Apply for grants directly. SS4A grants fall into two categories: 1) Planning and Demonstration Grants used to develop, complete or supplement an Action Plan, and 2) Implementation Grants used to implement projects or strategies that are consistent with an existing Action Plan to address a roadway safety problem. Eligible projects and strategies can be infrastructural, behavioral or operational activities.
3. Get started now! The next planning grant deadline is in June 2025. Review the list of SS4A grant recipients, details about the grants and resources about how to apply on the DOT’s SS4A site. 

1. NEMSIS Database. 2022 Data. Report generated 5/2/2023. 
2. FARS 2022 Annual Report File (ARF). Report generated 4/15/2024, Version 7.2, released 4/1/2024. 
3. Prehospital Hemorrhage Control and Treatment by Clinicians: A Joint Position Statement, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, and National Association of EMS Physicians, Revised August 2022.