Notices and Events

General Notices and Official Memos

Emergency Medical Transport Assessment Fee

The information contained on this Emergency Medical Transport Assessment Fee flyer is intended for ground transport services regarding the Emergency Medical Transporters Assessment Fee filing requirement with the Alabama Department of Revenue (ALDOR). It will help avoid confusion and delinquency issues that can be incurred if services wait until the annual renewal time of the year. Please pay close attention and contact the ALDOR if you have any question or concerns.

FREE 2025 NCCP Continuing Education

Southern Union is hosting a full FREE refresher course for all EMS license levels. Registration is not required, and (again) the courses are FREE! Click here for a list of courses.
All courses are CAPCE approved, and they will be uploaded directly to your NREMT account.
Class times begin at 0830 CST and go until completion.
Please contact the Southern Union EMS Program directly if you have any questions at 334-745-6437.

 Advanced EMT Course Memo

Effective June 24, 2022, the Alabama Department of Public Health Office of EMS issued a waiver to allow an individual pursuing an Advanced EMT license to begin an internship after obtaining national certification but prior to having a state-issued EMT license. This waiver allows a person who is not yet 18 to complete their Advanced EMT coursework.

This waiver shall terminate upon the Office of EMS amending its rules when applicable to incorporate the above language.

Identifying Mpox: An Update for EMS Professionals

Mpox Situation Update for EMS professionals

Request to Draw Blood by Law Enforcement Personnel

Please be familiar with the memo regarding any request to draw blood by law enforcement personnel.

IV Fluid Shortages

The OEMS is aware of IV fluid shortages. Please review Dr. Crawford's memo from 2014. It is still effective today.

National Registry of EMTs Update

The National Registry has provided updated information about certification and recertification. There is also information about their website and other issues you may encounter.

Newly Released Guidance on Fentanyl Exposure

Over the weekend, the American College of Medical Toxicologists released an authoritative, well-researched position paper on “preventing occupational fentanyl and fentanyl analog exposure to emergency responders.”

One key feature of this document is that it clarifies the role of dermal exposure to illicitly manufactured fentanyl and fentanyl analogs as a health hazard for first responders, noting that dermal toxicity is, in fact, very low for the powdered fentanyl products, and that standard universal precautions, and in some cases, an N95 mask for respiratory protection, are sufficient protection for law enforcement and other first responders.  It should be noted that NIOSH has recently updated its guidance on this topic, and this guidance can be found online.

Extended Use Dates Provided by Pfizer to Assist with Emergency Syringe Shortages

Due to the ongoing critical shortages of injectable drugs, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting healthcare professionals and emergency responders of updated dates through which some of these injectable drugs, manufactured by Hospira Inc, a Pfizer company, may be used beyond the manufacturer’s labeled expiration date. To help ensure patient safety, these products should have been — and should continue to be — stored as per labeled conditions. The information is available on the FDA website.

Improving EMS Worker Safety Through Ambulance Design and Testing

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate released a 7-part video series. This series is focused on keeping EMS workers and their patients safe in the ambulance patient compartment during a crash event.

Key points about the video series:

• Addresses research efforts to make design improvements in seating, patient cots, equipment mounts, storage cabinets, and the overall patient compartment body.
• Covers 10 new crash test methods published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to improve ambulance design.

You may also find this infographic useful in highlighting the 10 new SAE crash test methods.

Why Alabama Needs ALFirstComm

ALFirstComm has posted educational videos about the importance of ALFirstNet and the need for Alabama to be a part of the network.

When Ambulances Crash

NHTSA has put together an infographic with crash data collected between 1992 and 2011.

Federal Drug Administration (FDA) Warning: Powdered Pure Caffeine

The FDA is warning about powdered pure caffeine being marketed directly to consumers and recommends avoiding these products. In particular, the FDA is concerned about powdered pure caffeine sold in bulk bags over the Internet. The FDA is aware of at least one death of a teenager who used these products.
These products are essentially 100 percent caffeine. A single teaspoon of pure caffeine is roughly equivalent to the amount in 25 cups of coffee.
Pure caffeine is a powerful stimulant and very small amounts may cause accidental overdose. Parents should be aware that these products may be attractive to young people.

Symptoms of caffeine overdose can include rapid or dangerously erratic heartbeat, seizures, and death. Vomiting, diarrhea, stupor, and disorientation are also symptoms of caffeine toxicity. These symptoms are likely much more severe than those resulting from drinking too much coffee, tea, or other caffeinated beverages.

All consumers seeking caffeinated products should be aware of the potentially high potency of these powdered pure caffeine products. Parents should recognize that teenagers and young adults may be drawn to these products for their perceived benefits.

What to do:

• The FDA advises consumers to avoid powdered pure caffeine.
• It is nearly impossible to accurately measure powdered pure caffeine with common kitchen measuring tools and you can easily consume a lethal amount.
• If you believe that you are having an adverse event related to caffeine, stop using it and seek immediate medical care or advice.
• The FDA wants to know about adverse events associated with powdered pure caffeine and other highly caffeinated products. You or your health care provider can help by reporting these adverse events to the FDA in the following ways: by phone at 240-402-2405 or by email at [email protected]

Why this advice is important: Pure caffeine products are potentially dangerous, and serious adverse events can result, including death. People with pre-existing heart conditions should not use them.

Guide to Infection Prevention in EMS

The purpose of this guide is to provide EMS system responders and their organizations with a practical resource for infection recognition and prevention in the EMS environment. This guide contains current information, recommendations, regulations, resources, program examples, and forms to utilize in the EMS system responder setting. Please distribute freely.

Alabama Law for Volunteer First-Responder Vehicle Operators

Many communities rely on volunteer fire departments for their fire protection and EMS response. A brochure is provided to educate volunteer fire and EMS personnel as to their responsibilities and legal considerations while responding to calls for service in an effort to keep them - and the community they serve - safe.

EMS Community News and Updates

There are things happening in local communities that you may not be aware of. Please check out our EMS Community News and Updates page for more information.

Intelligence Guide for First Responders

The Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group (ITACG) has released the Intelligence Guide for First Responders. It is designed to assist first responders in accessing and understanding Federal intelligence reporting and to encourage the sharing of information. The ITACG consists of state, local, and tribal first responders from around the United States and federal intelligence analysts from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and National Counterterrorism Center working to enhance the sharing of federal information on counterterrorism, homeland security, and weapons of mass destruction with state, local, and tribal consumers of intelligence.