The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) mission is to save lives, prevent injuries and reduce traffic-related health care and other economic costs. The goal of NHTSA's EMS Division is to develop/enhance comprehensive emergency medical service systems to care for the injured patients involved in motor vehicle crashes. We are proud of the fact that improving EMS systems for the highway crash patients has a positive effect on all patients.

The first draft of the National EMS Scope of Practice Model is now available for review and comment (posted 07/21/04)

To request copies of the materials listed on this site, please print and fax back the NHTSA EMS Materials Order Form.

Public Safety Community Letter (posted 03/19/04)
Recently, there has been increased media attention about the potential dangers of extrication-related deployments of automotive safety equipment (i.e., airbags, seat belt pretensioners, etc.) to emergency personnel during rescue and EMS operations. While there have been reports of injuries to rescuers, the prevalence of these types of incidents is not known.

Trauma System Agenda for the Future (posted 12/11/03) Also available in .pdf format.
This report documents the importance of full implementation of quality trauma systems across the United States to provide optimal care for injured patients and to enhance the country's readiness to respond to future acts of terrorism. The document identifies key issues in addressing four fundamental components of the trauma care system (injury prevention, prehospital care, acute care facilities, and post-hospital care) and eight infrastructure elements that are critical to trauma system success – leadership, professional resources, education and advocacy, information management, finances, research, technology and disaster preparedness and response.