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Event Review

What happens at EMS Today does not Stay at #EMSToday

Are you one of the lucky ones?

In the trailer for Chronicles of EMS, Justin Schorr says “and if you’re one of the lucky ones you can travel cross-country to attend an EMS conference” or something close to that. And it used to be that the lucky ones that went to EMS conferences might share their experience with the members of their service. You have probably seen one of those presentations that starts with “the chief told me to tell you about the conference.”

Lots of People Go To Conferences

Not really. International EMS conferences were and mostly still are for the lucky few that can attend in person. A conference like EMS Today might attract 3,000 to 5,000 total attendees (I am guessing) out of a US EMS population of nearly a million. Thus a small fraction of us are attending. Until just recently most post-conference recaps were the forced reports to the department with a copy of any handouts collected, a tail board re-cap of the pub crawl over the morning cup of coffee, or the journalist coverage in the trade publications weeks or months later.

I Felt Like I was There

I did not go to EMS Today, but I felt like I was there. I have heard stories, seen photos, learned about new products, and met some new people. I had an EMS Today experience without actually attending (definitely good for me and I believe good for EMS Today). From the looks of it EMS Today is:

  • Fun
  • Friendly
  • Informative
  • Worthwhile

With the proliferation of social media what happens at EMS conferences no longer stays at EMS conferences. Much of the experience is shared live with Twitter posts, Facebook status updates, Flickr photos, and live video and audio streaming. Then in the immediate hours after a single session, conference day, or on the plane ride home a flurry of blog posts are published by attendees, presenters, and vendors.

Photos are uploaded, tagged, shared, and embedded. Podcasts and videos are edited and uploaded for sharing and commenting.

You Can Still Experience EMS Today 2010

If you couldn’t make it to EMS Today these are just a few of the bloggers that will give you a synopsis and analysis:

FireCritic – EMS Today in Retrospect

Seb and His Musings – Old Friends, New Friends, and Transitions

Prehospital 12 Lead ECG Blog – Friday at EMS Today

The Happy Medic  – Have you Met Ted

UK Medic 999 – EMS Today 2010, Baltimore Roundup!

TOTWTYTR – EMS Today AAR

David Konig – My #EMSToday 2010 Experience

Fire Daily – Don’t I Know You

Ambulance Driver – EMS Today After Action Report

Other bloggers please share links to your EMS Today conference recap posts in the comments area. Not a blogger, but went to EMS Today? Tell us about it in the comments area.

Interested in EMS Conferences? Check out these posts about conferencing:

1. Tips for Attending EMS Today

2. How to Become a Conference Presenter

3. Tips to Select Sessions at Conference

By Greg Friese

Greg Friese, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is an author, educator, paramedic, and marathon runner.

Greg was the co-host of the award winning EMSEduCast podcast, the only podcast by and for EMS educators. Greg has written for EMS1.com, JEMS.com, Wilderness Medical Associates, JEMS Magazine, EMSWorld.com and EMS World Magazine, and the NAEMSE Educator Newsletter.