Resolution #97-01 ResolutionPublic Access Defibrillation (replaces Resolution #96-8)
WHEREAS, sudden Cardiac Arrest is a major health problem that results in over 350,000 deaths per year in the United States, and WHEREAS, victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest have the greatest likelihood of
being successfully resuscitated if certain actions including 911 access, CPR, defibrillation and ALS level care are all accomplished in a timely and effective manner, and WHEREAS, the response of
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel to patients in the community with Sudden Cardiac Arrest may at times be delayed in locations that are distant of difficult to access, and WHEREAS, the Automated
External Defibrillator (AED) holds promise as a device that could be used effectively by the lay public, and WHEREAS, there is currently insufficient data as to the effectiveness, safety or costs of
defibrillation by the lay public and conflicting data as to the effectiveness of AED program in certain communities, and WHEREAS, available data indicate that AEDs can be effective when used in organized
systems of response (e.g. EMS, public safety and security personnel, aircraft crews) with physician oversight and quality assurance, and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that sudden Cardiac Arrest is a
major public health problem that ultimately must be addressed in individual communities and states through a data driven needs assessment and appropriate resource allocation, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the NASEMSD encourages further scientific studies of the effectiveness, safety and costs of early defibrillation programs by EMS, public safety responders and the lay public including targeted responders, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that state EMS directors should strive to ensure that the concept of early defibrillation is appropriate and expeditiously evaluated and implemented where and when proven to be
effective, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NASEMSD strongly recommends that any legislative or regulatory initiatives concerning the use of AEDs be based on scientifically established effectiveness and
safety, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NASEMSD pledges to work cooperatively with other national organizations, such as the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross, to ensure that all our
citizens have access to early defibrillation programs that are effective and safe. Signed this 26th day of October, 1997, Drew E. Dawson NASEMSD President Gary IrelandNASEMSD Secretary Return to Top
Resolution # 97-02 ResolutionNational EMS Memorial Service
WHEREAS, in 1928, Julian Stanley Wise founded the first volunteer rescue squad in Roanoke, Virginia, the Roanoke Life Saving and First Aid Crew, and
Virginia has subsequently taken the lead in honoring the thousands of people nationwide who gave their time and energy to community rescue squads through the establishment of To the Rescue,
a museum located in Roanoke devoted to emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, andWHEREAS, to further recognize the selfless contributions of EMS personnel nationwide and as the first state in the Nation to
establish a volunteer rescue squad, the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, Inc. and the Julian Stanley Wise Foundation, in conjunction with To the Rescue,
In 1993 organized the First Annual National EMS Memorial Service in Roanoke, Virginia, to honor EMS personnel from across the country who have died in the line of duty, and WHEREAS, the National EMS Memorial Service
has captured national attention by honoring 119 providers of emergency medical services from 35 states, and WHEREAS, the singular devotion of EMS personnel to the safety and welfare of their fellow citizens is worthy
of the highest praise, and WHEREAS, the annual National EMS Memorial Services is a fitting reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of EMS personnel nationwide, and WHEREAS, according to the Department of Health and
Human Services, 170,000 Americans require emergency medical services on an average day, a number which projects to over 60,000,000 people annually, and WHEREAS, the life of every American will be affected, directly or
indirectly, by the uniquely skilled and dedicated efforts of the EMS personnel who worked bravely and tirelessly to preserve America's greatest resource - people, and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the membership
of the National Association of State EMS Directors declares the memorial service held in Roanoke, Virginia, and sponsored by the National EMS Memorial Service Board of Directors to honor emergency medical services
people who have died in the line of duty as the "National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Service", and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President of the National Association of State EMS Directors shall
notify the President of the United States and the members of Congress of our organizations endorsement and support for Senate Concurrent Resolution #55 declaring the annual memorial service sponsored by the National
Emergency Medical Services Memorial Service Board of Directors to honor emergency medical services personnel to be the "National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Service".
Signed this 26th day of October, 1997, Drew E. Dawson NASEMSD President Gary IrelandNASEMSD Secretary Return to Top Resolution # 97-03 ResolutionRegistries of Organ and Tissue Donors WHEREAS, currently more than 54,000
Americans are on the waiting list for transplants and in 1996, there were only 5,400 donors, andWHEREAS, approximately 10 people die each day because organs are not available to them, and
WHEREAS, the major problem in transplantation today is a serious and escalating shortage of donor organs, and WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is planning a special national initiative to
increase organ donation in this country, with some strategies focusing on educating Americans about the need for donation and other targeting changes in systems and the environment that will encourage and facilitate
positive donation choices, and WHEREAS, one system-oriented strategy of particular interest to DHHS is the creation of registries in each state containing information on each individual who wishes to be a donor which
can be made readily available to family when an individual dies, and WHEREAS, having a repository of information about each individual's donation preference that can be readily accessed and presented to family at the
time of a loved ones' death holds promise of increasing donation, and WHEREAS, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have some method of indicating on the driver's license and individual's preference with respect
to donation, placing state motor vehicle administrations in particularly strategic positions to house or facilitate operation of donor registries, and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the NASEMSD supports the DHHS
strategy of creating state registries of organ donors and encourages its members to advocate for the creation of such registries in their respective states. Signed this 26th day of October, 1997, Drew E. Dawson
NASEMSD President Gary IrelandNASEMSD Secretary Return to Top
Resolution # 97-04 ResolutionEmergency Communications WHEREAS, the Cellular Telephone Industry Association (CTIA) is working to implement automatic location
identification (ALI) for 911 calls from cellular telephones, andWHEREAS, CTIA has requested access to federal property and facilities for placement of additional communication towers to increase cellular telephone
coverage, and WHEREAS, CTIA has proposed that revenue provided to the federal government from sale or lease of federal sites for communication towers could be made available to projects to improve emergency
communications, and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NASEMSD supports the proposal by CTIA to buy or lease federal sites to increase cellular telephone coverage, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the NASEMSD recommends
that the U.S. government use revenue generated by this arrangement to provide grants to states and territories to improve emergency communication systems based on identified needs at the state and local level.
Signed this 26th day of October, 1997, Drew E. Dawson NASEMSD President Gary IrelandNASEMSD Secretary Return to Top Resolution #97-05 ResolutionRural Emergency Medical Services WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States has
passed Public Law 105-33, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 that includes Section 4201 entitled Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHF), andWHEREAS, the RHF authorizes a twenty-five million dollar program of
grants to states to improve access to health care services including "the establishment or expansion of a program for the provision of rural emergency medical services", and WHEREAS, the National Rural
Health Association, the National Association of State EMS Directors, and others have been instrumental in seeking funding from Congress for rural emergency medical services, and WHEREAS, the National Association of
State EMS Directors partnered with the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is preparing a position paper for the NRHA on the subject of "Rural/Frontier EMS towards the year 2000", and
WHEREAS, no funds were appropriated for such purposes by Congress for federal fiscal year 1998, and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the National Association of State EMS Directors in cooperation with the National Rural
Health Association encourages the utilization of the NRHA position paper by Congress, states, agencies and others to continue to focus on addressing rural and frontier EMS issues, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
Congress is encouraged to appropriate funds in the authorized amount of twenty-five million dollars for fiscal year 1999-2002 to improve access to health services for rural populations, including rural/frontier EMS.
Signed this 26th day of October, 1997, Drew E. Dawson NASEMSD President Gary IrelandNASEMSD Secretary Return to Top |