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Emergency medical services are often provided under chaotic circumstances that may contribute to failure. This story highlights a series of esophageal intubation errors and efforts to minimize this “never event” across the state of Rhode Island. Improvement strategies discussed include practice restrictions for EMT personnel and use of less invasive, less risky processes to provide oxygen as an alternative to intubation, which may reduce esophageal intubation errors

Air transport service combines risks associated with both aviation and prehospital trauma care. This article discusses the role of human factors in this fast-paced care environment. The author encourages efforts to reduce risks through policy change, purchasing the latest safety equipment, and empowering staff to decline calls when conditions are unsafe.

This news article reports on how drug shortages have affected emergency medical services.

An emergency crew from a suburb failed to efficiently transport a marathon runner in cardiac arrest to the nearest emergency room in central Chicago.

This story describes how hospitals in the United Kingdom have incorporated teamwork principles used by auto racing pit crews to improve patient safety during handoffs.

In this article, an emergency medicine physician describes the work environment of emergency medical technicians and paramedics and why it is prone to error.