More than 650 EMS professionals came together at Fire-Rescue Med 2003 May 3–7 at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Hosted by the IAFC EMS Section, the conference featured informative pre-conference workshops, compelling speakers and networking opportunities for participants.

The conference started with two days of intensive pre-conference workshops focusing on EMS supervision and leadership, EMS law, lessons learned from WMD and hazmat incidents and more.

The main conference began May 5 when IAFC President Randy Bruegman greeted conference participants and discussed the IAFC’s leadership role in efforts to ensure proper fire service representation in Washington, D.C. Bruegman’s remarks were preceded by a warm welcome to conference attendees from Chief Earl Greene of the Clark County (Nev.) Fire Department. The opening general session concluded with a forceful address from Michael Fortino, noted author and motivational speaker.

Each year at Fire-Rescue Med, the IAFC EMS Section presents two prestigious EMS awards—the James O. Page Award and the Heartsafe Community awards, both co-sponsored by Medtronic Physio Control.

The James O. Page award is presented each year to an individual who has played a key role in creating or promoting positive, nationwide achievements in fire service EMS. This year’s recipient was Mary Beth Michos, chief of Prince William County (Va.) Fire Rescue. Michos was recognized for many achievements, including creating Maryland’s first pre-hospital ALS training program and implementing a mobile intensive care training program while serving as the EMS Officer for the Montgomery County (Md.) Department of Fire and Rescue, as well as for her tenure as chairperson of the IAFC EMS Section. Michos leads a 300-person career department that provides support to more than 1,100 volunteers in 12 volunteer fire companies.

The Heartsafe Community Award is presented annually to two fire service EMS agencies that have played key roles in creating and/or promoting public access defibrillation (PAD) in their communities. Broward County (Fla.) Fire and Rescue was selected for jurisdictions serving 100,000 people or more, and the Village of Oak Park (Ill.) Fire Department was selected for jurisdictions serving fewer than 100,000 people.

Broward County’s PAD program placed 175 AEDs in various locations, including airport terminals, the seaport, county parks and high-rise condos. The county published a study demonstrating that after minimal instruction, elderly condo residents provided timely defibrillation using an AED on a simulated victim. Promotion efforts for the PAD program included placards inside shopping carts at local grocery stores and public service announcements between movies at a local cinema.

The Village of Oak Park Fire Department placed 86 AEDs in the community, mostly in cabinets directly linked to an enhanced 9-1-1 communications center. AEDs are located in business offices, churches, parks, schools and senior citizen residential complexes. The fire department provides a free AED maintenance check every six months and promotes the PAD program through an informational video shown on public access cable television.

In addition to the vibrant general sessions and awards presentations, the conference featured many breakout seminars on timely EMS issues ranging from focused seminars on specific EMS topics to broader discussions on effective leadership and management. Seminars included classes on crisis communications, integrating fire and EMS, working with a billing service and ambulance safety.

One of the highlights of the conference was the wide variety of exhibits featured in The Orleans Hotel ballroom. During breaks between seminars and at lunchtime in the ballroom, attendees had the opportunity to meet with representatives from numerous EMS-related companies.

The 2004 conference will be held April 26–28 in Las Vegas.