Understanding EMT Scope of Practice in Pennsylvania
When you call 911, an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) may be the first healthcare professional to arrive. EMTs provide important prehospital emergency care while working within their certification level, Pennsylvania EMS protocols, agency policies, and medical direction.
What Can EMTs Do?
Assess patients — Check vital signs, obtain medical histories, ... (Full Story & Photos)

What Happens When We’re NOT Running Calls?
When you see an ambulance or fire truck sitting at the station, it may look like nothing is happening.
But readiness is happening.
Fire and EMS aren’t services that can simply open when someone calls 911. We must be staffed, trained, equipped, and ready 24 hours a day, 365 days a year—because emergencies don’t make appointments.
Between calls, our personnel ... (Full Story & Photos)

Whether volunteer or career, there is something we should never forget:
The public trusts us.
They open their doors to us. They hand us their children. They trust us with their parents, their homes, their lives, and sometimes their final moments.
When the alarm sounds, someone is having what may be the worst day of their life — and we have been given the privilege of being the ones who answer.
It ... (Full Story & Photos)

Being prepared can make emergencies less stressful and help older adults stay safe, connected, and independent.
A few simple steps can make a big difference:
📋 Keep an updated list of medications, medical contacts, and important phone numbers.
💧 Have several days of water, nonperishable food, and essential supplies on hand.
🔦 Keep flashlights, extra batteries, and a phone charger easily accessible.
💊 ... (Full Story & Photos)

🌕 Myth: Full moons mean more 911 calls, more chaos, and more unusual behavior for EMS.
🚑 Reality: Despite years of stories and “full moon” lore in healthcare, research hasn’t shown a consistent increase in emergency calls, psychiatric emergencies, trauma, or other EMS activity simply because the moon is full.

So why does it feel busier? Confirmation bias may play a role—we remember the wild calls ... (Full Story & Photos)