At the conclusion of this session Prehospital Care Providers will have a better understanding of how EMS is changing and will realize that the future is going to be a whole lot different than the past 50 years that I witnessed.

The rising cost of health care in the United States forces people to use EMS as their life-net or primary source of medical care. Americans rank highest when it comes to Cardiac Arrest, Hypertension, Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer.

Prehospital Care Providers have always had to respond to both natural and man-made disasters, but the tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001 changed the lives of Americans forever! We as First Responders must turn the mirror on ourselves and ask the tough question “Are We Ready and Will We Be Ready for the Next 50 Years?” The world tragedies of the past forces us to be specially trained for unusual events such as Active Shooters, School Shootings, Acts of Terrorist, Bombings, Civil Disorder, Protest, Hurricanes, Tornadoes & Floods. During this session we will look at what we really do and will show that we do more than give people a ride in an ambulance!

For the last several years we have seen a decline in people volunteering across America. Many say it is because they do not have the time because they must work, and in some cases two jobs to support their families because of the rising cost of commodities, fuel, school, and insurance.

EMS is looked upon as a rewarding job but there is not much money to be made. Baby boomers and generation X millennials may have been ok with working long hours for little pay, but Generation Z will want to work less for more money and work smarter using electronic technology. Science projects that Generation Z will produce the smartest EMS Workforce we have every witnessed, but it will still take veteran EMS professional to show them the hands-on skills that are hard to come by using virtual reality.

For EMS & Fire agencies to survive this workforce crisis, they will have to become more creative and respect their workers and volunteers as their greatest asset! Agencies will have to work diligently to retain veteran paramedics and firefighters and motivated them to keep working to help train and educate the new generation of EMS.

At the end of this session, you will better understand how change is impacting EMS and you will ask yourself, Will we be ready for the Next 50 Years of TRAG.E.DIES.