Held from April 22-25, Wave 2025 covered a variety of impressive topics throughout the week. Here are the five themes that were at the forefront of discussions in fire and EMS:

1. Artificial Intelligence   

Front and center on the world stage, AI is an incredible new technology that we’re only skimming the surface of what it can bring to the industry. Despite the fact that we need to proceed cautiously and responsibly, we’re excited to see how its role will continue to evolve in the years to come.  

At Wave, the air was abuzz with talks surrounding AI. Chief Innovation Officer of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Todd Ponsky, used his session Global Education Moonshot: Using AI and Media to Transform Medical Knowledge Access to shed light on the new technology’s role in fighting global disparities in patient care.  

Cincinnati Fire Department’s program manager, Robert Hug then shared how his department is transforming their documentation and analyses of their data through the integration of AI into Snowflake in Beyond ChatGPT: Unlocking the Power of AI in Snowflake.  

Finally, we learned how ESO will be tackling AI from ESO Senior VP of Engineering Russell Beggs, Senior VP of Product Reinhard Ekl, and Chief Innovation Officer Brandon Martinez in their session Artificial Intelligence in ESO Products: Efficiency Gains You Can Trust. They discussed the responsible approach ESO is using to harness the new technology to improve the efficiency and accuracy of documentation through our new auto-generated narrative feature. 

2. Mobile Integrated Healthcare 

EMS is on the front lines of providing medical care for their communities, treating the most vulnerable of society, oftentimes on a repeated basis. More than ever before, data and strategic partnerships are being used as tools for empowering first responders to get to the root of patients’ issues through Mobile Integrated Healthcare/Community Paramedicine programs. These programs can be incredibly impactful for both the agencies and the patients they treat.  

Kicking off the discussion, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Global Medical Response, Gerad Troutman, explored the power of these alternate care models in redirecting non-life-threatening cases away from the ER while providing proactive care for repeat callers in his talk From Sirens to Solutions: How EMS Data is Driving Smarter Healthcare, 

Then, in Unifying Community Paramedicine (CP) and Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) Data: A NEMSIS Initiative, NEMSIS Technical Assistance Center Program Director Kevin Nicholes discussed how impactful data unification can be for MIH/CP programs in improving everything from patient outcomes to billing practices.  

Continuing to drill down into the importance of partnerships to MIH/CP programs, we learned how agencies across the city of Tulsa combined forces to leverage their different strengths and skills in order to get to the root of their patients’ problems thanks to Aligning Community Data for the Common Good by Tulsa Fire Department Chief of EMS, Justin Lemery.  

Finally, even though MIH/CP is an impactful tool for providing care for your community, you need the right funding to make it happen. Asbel Montes from Solutions Group Services gave us the rundown on what not to do when seeking a bigger budget in his talk, The Top 5 Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Seeking Additional Funding for MIH/CP. Then EMS/MIH Consultant Matt Zavadsky of PWW Advisory Group dove into the importance of using data to prove the value of the services you provide in From Data to Impact: Demonstrating Your Agency’s Value to the Community.  

3. Data-driven innovations 

Every day, organizations use ESO data to do incredible things, but without the framework to define, measure, and reduce errors in data, you can’t pull quality insights from the information gleaned. This was emphasized in Reducing Errors, What Percentage of Plane Crashes Would Be Okay?, where Cox Health EMS Medical Director Matthew Brandt shared strategies for using data to improve care, foster accountability, and ensure adaptation, along with in Be Curious not Furious: A Data-Driven Approach to Change by TowerDIRECT Paramedic Jason Drinkwater, where we learned how to measure what matters.  

Then, in Conducting Qualitative Research with Your Team: A Crash Course of Meaningful Outcomes, Fire Chief Dr. Brett Ellis from the City of Webster Grove took it a step further, teaching us it’s not just data quality that needs to be considered but who’s benefiting from the data that it pays to use qualitative research that reflects the personalities and passions of your team.  

We also learned that although data and technological advancements are doing incredible things for first response, organizations need to decide what’s best for them. In Assessing Your Technology Needs: A Practical Roadmap for Smarter Solutions, a session by Principle of Acceleration Strategies, Robert Edson, gave insights into how to determine which innovative tools are necessary for your organization without overspending or underutilizing resources. 

We also drilled down into what we should be measuring as an industry. Recently, data has shown that response times aren’t a reliable indicator for measuring outcomes, as they rarely reflect the quality of care provided. Chief Medical Officer of the Forth Worth Office of the Medical Director, Jeffrey Jarvis, is well versed on the topic and used his talk, Improving Clinical Care Using National EMS Quality Alliance (NEMSQA) Benchmarks, to share what your organization should be measuring instead. 

Using EMS Data to Drive Safety: Resources, Lights, and Sirens by UNC Department of Emergency Medicine’s EMS Chief Medical Officer Joseph Grover and Beyond Response Time Standards, the Evolution of Contract Compliance by Global Medical Response Clinical Quality Managers Brad Cramer and Jake Shores, both also dove into response but focused more on best practices for minimizing lights and sirens usage without sacrificing standard of care.  

We also learned how data is helping us build a better offense in our efforts to keep our communities safe. In Why Risk Reduction Planning Zones are Essential, AP Triton Senior Associate Frank Blackley discussed how the right insights can help agencies more effectively visualize and reduce risks. In the FSRI Fire Dynamics Research Update, UL-FSRI Director of Research Craig Weinschenk gave us the latest learnings related to WUI fires, electrical fires, and search and rescue. 

Cary Fire Department’s Fire and Emergency Services Analyst Blake Boyd raised another good point regarding measuring outcomes in Outliers: An Inclusive Conversation. He led a discussion on how traditional data analysis methods hinder fire departments’ ability to identify and manage outliers and what best practices could be taken instead.  

There are many uses for data. It doesn’t just push us towards better patient outcomes or help us get paid, as discussed by Systems Design West Education Direction Alissa Christenbury in Data-driven insights: improving ambulance billing through documentation analysis, but it is also a tool for keeping our teams safe. In The Power of Reporting: Using Data to Foster Trust and Prevent Violence, Commander Mandy Johnston of Peel Regional Paramedic Services spoke to the violence paramedics face on the job, along with the role data reporting can play in supporting prevention efforts. Then, in PPE Exposure to Energy Storage Fires, Texas A&M Division Director Chris Angerer discussed the data-driven best practices for protecting your department from the devastating impacts of exposure.  

SCEMSA Executive Director Henry Lewis really hit home the importance of data and how, when we work together in a unified front to utilize our collective insights and talents, we can do incredible things. His talk Leveraging Data for EMS Funding: the SCEMSA Story shared how the South Carolina EMS Association has overcome both a hiring and funding deficit by doing just that. 

This leads us to create the right culture around your data – from using insights to transform your leadership, as discussed by Dare County EMS Deputy Chief Terence Sheehy in Transformative Leadership: Don’t Give Up the Ships, to the importance of promoting the creation and use of data at your own organization as touted by the President/CEO of International Public Safety Data Institute, John Oates, in his talk What is Your Data Culture?, we were taught a lot about making your agency a hub for fostering excellence and growth.  

4. Prehospital and hospital interoperability  

Day in and day out, EMS providers make critical decisions with lives weighing in the balance. Today, data and technology are instrumental in closing the feedback loop and ensuring they have the necessary information to make the right call the moment they need it.  

In ESO Health Data Exchange (HDE): The Bridge to Better Patient Outcomes, VHC Health EMS Liaison Justin Nelson discussed how his team used ESO HDE to better facilitate communication with their partners, increasing feedback loop closures from 11% to 94% and increasing overall EMS transports by 7%, which ultimately transformed both the quality and quantity of the care they were able to provide.  

In Precision Under Pressure: How Technology Is Transforming Prehospital Dosing and Clinical Support, Hinkley Medical CEO Tristen Hazlett and Physician Abraham Campos gave us a run down on how powerful data-driven decision-making can be in shaping the future of prehospital care while Gaining “Insight” into Patient Acuity: Enhancing Response Plans by Linking Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Codes to Patient Care Interventions by Wake County EMS Deputy Medical Director Jefferson Williams explained how insights can improve patient-based response planning and prioritization today. 

As the role of fire and EMS continues to rapidly change beyond first response, data is helping them to become a bigger part of the patient care continuum than ever before. In The Evolving Role of Fire and EMS in Healthcare, Axene Continuing Education CEO & Founder Eric Axene, MD, FACEP, discussed how data-driven partnerships are transforming the relationship between prehospital and hospital care.  

The more we understand the entire continuum of care, the clearer we can see EMS’s full range of capabilities for treating patients and the impact they make. In To Transfuse or Not to Transfuse: Using ESO Data to Evaluate the Utility of Implementing a Prehospital Blood Product Program, Medical Director of Cincinnati Fire Department, Dustin Calhoun, dove into the current state of prehospital 911 blood product administration and our learnings thus far.  

5. NERIS 

The nervous excitement around NERIS was palpable at Wave, and crowds were out the door for sessions surrounding the new system. UL-FSRI Director of Research Craig Weinschenk led a session called National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS): Changing the Future of Fire Departments, where he gave a highly anticipated update on what’s currently happening with the project and how NERIS is set to transform the industry.  

In NERIS is Near Us, ESO product experts Jennifer Billingsley and Katie Heins gave a demo on the brand new NERIS-compliant Fire Incidents and answered a wide range of questions regarding the new response system. If you missed it, have no fear. You can check out our NERIS FAQs here, and if you don’t find an answer to your questions, submit them here, and we’ll be happy to assist you.  

Stay ahead of what’s trending in the industry. 

Our data experts at ESO compiled a few resources to help you keep up with a shifting industry while using aggregated data to ensure your organization stays at the top of its game. Check out the 2025 ESO EMS and Fire Services Indices to see where your organization stands against national benchmarks in important metrics. Pulling from the ESO Data Collective, the Indices help your team see where you’re on top of your game and areas that are ripe for improvement, along with sharing best practices that promote growth. 

Read the 2025 ESO Fire Service Index

Read the 2025 ESO EMS Index

It’s not too early to start thinking about Wave 2026! 

Mark your calendars for April 7-10, 2026, to join us in Austin, TX, for four days of thought leadership, networking, and learning. If you’re interested in being the first to get the inside scoop on what data-driven advancements and technologies are trending industry-wide, mark your calendars and stay tuned to register.  

The post Wave 2025 Recap: Top 5 Topics in EMS and Fire   appeared first on ESO.

“A culture of excellence for us is ensuring that our data is as high-quality as it can be and using it in our reporting metrics.” 

– Matt Jacoby, Assistant Fire Chief at Cary Fire Department, North Carolina

Cary Fire Department in Cary, North Carolina, knows that good data can mean the difference between guessing and making informed decisions that keep firefighters safe. Over the years, the department has built a culture focused on collecting high-quality, consistent data and turning it into action.

In this video, Matt Jacoby, Assistant Fire Chief at Cary Fire Department, shares how data has become part of their daily operations and how that mindset helps drive continuous improvement across the department. Between setting higher benchmarks to pioneering new processes, Cary Fire is using data to protect firefighters, improve patient care, and shape the future of fire service operations.

Video Transcript

How Cary Fire Department Uses Quality Data

to Make Informed Decisions 

Matt Jacoby

Assistant Fire Chief at Town of Cary Fire Department

Cary, North Carolina

We collect an awful lot of data through reports and other metrics that we all are required to complete, and there’s a real opportunity to use that data in a way that drives our profession forward.

The culture of excellence for us is really ensuring that our data is as high-quality as it can be and then using that in our reporting metrics. This culture has been ingrained in us for much of my career, and year by year, we incrementally try to raise the bar, set that standard, and continue that journey of continuous improvement.

Now, the fire service is traditionally resistant to change, so it does impede progress sometimes. I just want to challenge folks, the fire service leaders who are there, to rethink what they do and think outside of where they currently are in different ways [and how] they can use that data to stretch.

If you can’t compare your data to itself with a benchmark, then it becomes useless. So you have to have that established standard and then continue to raise that bar so you can challenge yourself.

That’s what it’s all about for us. That’s the culture of continuous improvement and excellence.

We’ve been tracking fire decontamination, products of combustion, and exposures for about a year. I think we’ve just implemented that as a mandatory field now. So that’s going live just this week. Very excited to see the outcome of that and the impact on our folks because that’s a huge focus, as you know, making sure our people stay safe and get them into retirement for a long life.

Becoming the first fire department in our county to implement the HDE and electronic patient transfer is groundbreaking for us.

We embarked on a long journey, really working with our county partners to get to a point where everybody was comfortable turning this function on. Since that time, we’ve been live with that for about two years or so. We really paved the way for other departments to come on board and simplify their process.

We like things very simple, and with the iOS app coming online, that simplifies and streamlines things even more. The ability to dictate what a medication that you’re administering is, automatically ingesting that, and putting it in the proper spot – that is remarkable.

The advice I would give anyone who’s looking to start this would be to embrace it fully – but don’t force it upon anyone. When we build our teams, many of them are voluntary. We solicit input, and whoever wants to contribute can contribute.

That’s the heart of a successful team. They want to be there. They want to be a part of that change.

We like to lead the way. Cary Fire Department enjoys being first in anything that we can.

I get to be a small part of that, and that’s the true joy for me.

To learn more about the incredible work Cary Fire Department is doing, visit carync.gov/services-publications/fire. 

Interested in more stories like this?

Join us at Wave 2025  featuring ESO Training Academy from April 22–25, 2025 in Austin, Texas, to hear from leaders like Matt. 

The post Using Data to Protect Firefighters and Drive Improvement appeared first on ESO.

If you missed it, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Here’s a recap of the major updates and what they mean for your department. 

NFIRS Retirement and the Hybrid Reporting  

Any new skill requires practice, whether it’s figuring out a new rescue tool, gaining confidence in ladder operations, or entering data in a new system. With NFIRS officially retiring on January 1, 2026, fire departments are preparing for onboarding and learning what NERIS will bring to their daily operations.  

The webinar mentioned that fire departments will be able to transition to NERIS in 2025 based on their local needs and readiness. It’s important that you work with ESO, or your RMS vendor, to establish timelines. The goal of this reporting year is to ensure that departments can onboard in a way that minimizes disruption.  

What does this mean for ESO customers?  

For ESO customers, as your RMS vendor, we can work with you to access the NFIRS system for historical data once you complete the update. 

What’s New? NERIS Features and System Improvements 

The webinar highlighted several key changes in NERIS, designed to provide more accurate data, better risk analysis, and improved operational insights. 

NERIS ID 

Say goodbye to your old FDID. A major change is the transition from FDID to a unique, alphanumeric NERIS ID. Unlike FDIDs, which were only unique within a state, NERIS IDs are geospatially based and unique across the country. It is composed of your NERIS entity type, state and county FIPS codes, and random trailing characters.  Each fire department will require their own NERIS ID to report for that agency.    

This new identifier helps standardize reporting and ensures that data can be analyzed consistently across local, regional, and national levels. However, departments can still use their FDID locally while transitioning to the new system. 

Multiple Incident Types 

NERIS introduces multi-incident type reporting, allowing departments to log up to three incident types per call instead of being limited to just one. 

For example, a single response might include: 

• A vehicle fire 

• A hazardous materials spill 

• An entrapment requiring technical rescue 

Being able to report multiple incident types gives a clearer picture of what firefighters encounter on scene and provides more detailed data for leadership and policymakers.  Departments will need to work on policies to help drive their department to how they want to list incident types.  

Improved Mutual Aid Tracking 

Mutual aid data will be more precise, capturing not only whether aid was given or received but also the specific role that outside units played. The system distinguishes between: 

• Aid given in support of another department 

• Aid given in lieu of the primary department responding 

• Aid provided under contract or acting as another agency 

This structured approach helps departments track true call volume in their jurisdictions and better understand their mutual aid relationships. 

Expanded Tactical Reporting 

From suppression techniques to ventilation efforts, the new system captures detailed tactical data for smarter decision-making. 

Fire departments can now document: 

• Ventilation tactics (e.g., vertical, horizontal, hydraulic) 

• Water application times 

• Primary search status and completion times 

• Rescues and victim outcomes 

This level of detail wasn’t possible in NFIRS and will give departments better insight into the effectiveness of their actions on scene. 

Geospatial Incident Mapping 

NERIS integrates GIS data to provide real-time incident mapping and a clearer view of response patterns. 

Departments will be able to analyze: 

• Designated response areas 

• Call density and geographic trends 

• Mutual aid coverage and gaps 

This data can support station placement decisions, resource allocation, and community risk reduction efforts. 

Real-Time Data Quality Checks 

To improve reporting accuracy, NERIS includes near real-time data validation at the point of entry for minimal rules. This helps reduce errors, missing data, and inconsistent reporting by flagging issues before a report is submitted.   

Fire departments will no longer need to rely on manual reviews or wait weeks to identify reporting errors – the system provides immediate feedback to ensure high-quality data from the start. 

The system will not capture responders and other related information. For these items, refer to your RMS vendor. 

A Phased Approach to Rollout 

Onboarding is happening in phases to ensure departments have the support they need. The transition plan includes: 

• State Fire Marshal coordination to assist with training and outreach 

• Early onboarding for small and large metro departments 

• Regional onboarding based on FEMA regions, allowing departments within the same area to transition together 

Collaboration with RMS vendors to ensure smooth data exchange for departments using third-party reporting systems.                                                                             

Next Steps for Fire Departments 

Here’s how your fire department can start preparing: 

1. Confirm Your Onboarding Timeline: Reach out to your state fire marshal or RMS vendor for your schedule. 
2. Initiate Training: Beginning in May 2025, FEMA regions will begin formally leading the onboarding process. Work with your vendor to understand the training process and when it will be available. 
3. Review Workflows: Analyze your current reporting processes and adjust them to align with NERIS standards. 
4. Stay Informed: Keep an eye on upcoming training resources, webinars, and updates to ensure you’re fully prepared. For more information on how to prepare, visit the official NERIS website. 
    

How ESO is Supporting Your Transition 

For more than a year, ESO has worked closely with FSRI to ensure we’re prepared to help you migrate to NERIS. From onboarding to data collection for reporting, our team is ready to support your transition. We’re ensuring that:   

• Your NERIS account is set up with minimal disruption 

• You receive hands-on, practical training  

• Your transition to NERIS reporting is smooth and timely 

Do you have questions about NERIS or do you need guidance on how ESO can help with your transition to the new system?  

Visit our NERIS FAQs to learn more

The post Get Ready: NERIS National Rollout and Onboarding appeared first on ESO.

Critical incident reporting metrics are designed to measure the events that have the most potential to be psychologically traumatizing for first responders and are closest linked to PTSD and suicide. While the list is not exhaustive and critical incidents can vary from person to person, their documentation is crucial for protecting your own team and further improving research for the entire industry.  

Here are the nine psychologically traumatizing events (PTE) you should be documenting:  

• Serious injury or line-of-duty death  
• Suicide of a co-worker  
• Death or serious injury to a child  
• Prolonged failed rescue  
• Multi-casualty incident disaster  
• The victim is known to the responder  
• Any incident where the personal safety of the responder is jeopardized  
• Incidents with excessive media interest  
• Any incident with a powerful emotional component 
  
  

It’s important to note that nearly 79% of records did not mention the circumstances surrounding critical incidents, which means there is a major opportunity for improving documentation. This could be in part due to the fact there is still a stigma around mental health within first response. 

So, what else can your organization do? 

With the alarming rise in suicide amongst first responders, the tracking of critical incidents should be a top priority within your organization and is one of many steps you can take toward improving the wellbeing of your team. Below are some recommended best practices as outlined in the 2024 ESO Fire Service Index and 2024 ESO EMS Index.

• Cultivate a supportive organizational culture where team members feel comfortable reporting critical incident exposure. Put organizational procedures and zero-harassment policies in place to promote a positive atmosphere of respect, fairness, and employee appreciation. 
  
  
• Documenting exposure to critical incidents is key. Enable incident tracking and take action when any events are reported. Ask clinicians how they prefer to be contacted when an incident occurs.  
  
  
• Consult the 2022 Public Safety Officer Support Act, which provides line-of-duty benefits for first responders experiencing PTSD due to critical incident exposure. 
  
  
• Since critical incidents can differ from person to person, provide training to your entire team based on the latest evidence for potentially psychologically traumatizing events to help them better recognize PTSD within themselves and their peers.  
  
  
• Invest in training and continuing education on delivering death notifications to ease the stress associated with performing this difficult task. 
  
  
• Ensure access to appropriate mental health resources. If possible, partner with local mental health clinicians who have experience working with first responders and consider establishing peer support teams. 
  
  

It’s important to remember that everyone reacts differently to the same or similar incidents, so personalize treatment to each person’s individual needs. Finally, ensure your team has the right support resources, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK [8255]) and pocketpeer.org.  

For more insights regarding improving your response to critical incidents, check out the 2024 ESO Fire Service Index and the 2024 ESO EMS Index.  

The post Why Critical Incident Reporting Matters appeared first on ESO.

It is with great pride that we’ve watched these organizations redefine what’s possible in first response throughout the year. From protecting the mental health and safety of first responders to providing care in underserved areas to empowering the next generation of nurses, the stories below highlight the incredible impact made by our community in 2024.

How Ute Pass’ MIH Program Centers Care Around the Patient 

Serving over 500 square miles in rural Colorado, Ute Pass Regional Health Service is using community paramedicine programs to improve healthcare access for underserved populations. By focusing on preventive care and data-driven insights, the agency is lowering costs and improving outcomes.

Read the blog or watch the video to get the full story. 

Addressing Violence in EMS 

Despite being driven by a desire to provide a service to their community, first responders are met with an increasing amount of violence in their day to day — a lot of which goes unreported due to its normalization in the field. Elizabeth Donnelly, PhD, MSW, MPH, NREMT, Associate Professor at the University of Windsor and Co-Principal Investigator of the Violence in Paramedicine Research Group, shares insights from years of research and frontline experiences, advocating for strategies like incorporating reporting tools and promoting a safer work environment for paramedics

For more information on the work Dr. Donnelly and the Violence in Paramedicine Research Group are doing and to learn how we can create safer working environments for EMS professionals, visit www.protectparamedics.com. 

Medavie’s Mobile Integrated Healthcare solution  

Based in Canada, Medavie Health Services uses Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) programs to deliver primary care and mental health support directly to patients, especially in rural areas. By using data to identify where care is needed most, they tailor their programs to address the unique needs of their communities.

Transforming Community Safety 

Trevor Wilson, Division Chief of Planning at the Indianapolis Fire Department understands that when it comes to community safety, a good offense is the best defense. In the past six months, he’s used his organizational insights to reduce emergency incidents in his at-risk neighborhood by an incredible 75%. 

Shaping the Future of Nursing 

Shawntay Harris, President and CEO of Eminent Healthcare Resources Consultants and the President of the Texas Emergency Nurses Association is passionate about shaping leaders in the field of nursing. Learn how she’s working with organizations to not only retain nurses but help them thrive in their careers.   

Why Cook Children’s Medical Center Chose ESO Patient Registry 

When it comes to providing the best trauma care, Cook Children’s Medical Center knows that having timely, reliable data is vital. ESO Patient Registry streamlined their collection process while reducing errors, improving the patient experience along the way.  

Children’s Hospital Colorado: Improving Care While Saving $40k

The Children’s Hospital Colorado team needed a faster way to exchange patient data, as their manual process often took two to three days. They implemented ESO Health Data Exchange (HDE), reducing that process to just a few minutes. By using ESO HDE, the hospital strengthened relationships with EMS partners, improved patient care, and saved $40,000 annually.

Download the full case study

Looking Ahead 

Thank you for taking the time to reflect on 2024 with us. We are so incredibly proud of the accomplishments our ESO community has made in the last year and look forward to seeing how their work shapes the future of health and safety in the years to come.  

There’s a lot of other achievements and big ideas that happened at ESO in 2024. To read more on the product innovations and research that made us most proud, check out the blog posts below. 

Year in Review: ESO Research and Data That Shaped 2024 

Year in Review: Product Innovation and Progress from 2024

The post Year in Review: The Impact of the ESO Community in 2024 appeared first on ESO.

As industries shift, evolving the role of public health and safety with it, the ESO platform needs to continuously improve to keep up. To ensure that we are delivering the best tools and updates designed to make your work easier and results more impactful.  

In celebration of the progress we’ve worked so incredibly hard for in 2024, here are a few of our biggest product innovations and advancements made possible by feedback and recommendations from customers like you. 

Innovations to Support the Industry 

Through listening to customer feedback, we developed solutions to address real-world needs, simplify operations, and improve outcomes. Last quarter, we announced that ESO Suite admins can now submit product feedback and ideas directly through the platform simply by clicking on an easy-to-use question mark button and the ESO community was thrilled, quickly putting the button to work.

“Over time, I saw my request move through the roadmap and eventually go live. It showed me ESO listens to its users and turns feedback into real updates.”
– Brandon Jenkins, Executive Director of Nottoway County  

And now this quarter, we’ve made the process even smoother by enabling the ESO Product Teams to respond directly to those submissions. These new capabilities will continue to improve the feedback process and allow our ESO community to play an even bigger part in working towards our collective mission.  

ESO EHR and Data Advancements

ESO continued its focus on evolving ESO Electronic Health Record (EHR) with features designed for critical care and mobile integration. Improvements like longitudinal patient records have transformed episodic documentation into comprehensive patient narratives, aiding both EMS and community health providers in delivering coordinated care. 

iOS for EHR 

Coming soon, the new native ESO EHR iOS app is designed to make documenting patient data even easier and more efficient. New innovative features such as speech-to-text, scanning technology, and smarter multitasking will make data entry a breeze, so first responders can get back to delivering their best care possible.  

ESO Insights and Dashboards 

New ESO Insights dashboards brought reporting features to the forefront for fire, EMS, and hospital teams. With live data capabilities and cross-platform integration, agencies are now equipped to analyze and act on vital data more effectively than ever. 

NERIS Transition Readiness 

ESO is continuing to prepare agencies for the upcoming transition to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS), set to replace NFIRS. Early alignment with the NERIS schema ensures that fire departments are ahead of the curve as the industry standard evolves.  

We’ve created and compiled resources to help agencies prepare. Check out the FAQs page for answers to your most pressing questions, our blog posts for the latest updates, and helpful videos for step-by-step guidance on how to adopt NERIS with confidence. 

To help your department prepare, check out our FAQs About NERIS and blog on the upcoming launch of NERIS Version 1. You can also watch videos like What Fire Departments Need to Know About NERIS and NERIS Beta Launch Explained for step-by-step guidance.

Supporting First Responders and Communities through Dispatch 

ESO expanded its role in supporting first responders through improved tools and tailored solutions. The acquisition of Logis Solutions and the focus on mobile health initiatives reflect our commitment to evolving alongside the needs of emergency service providers and the communities they serve. By combining our complementing technologies, ESO will now be able to create a more cohesive patient journey from 911 call to outpatient services.  

From smarter decision making with Logis IDS to easier billing workflows with Billing, this new venture helps your team deliver the best possible care while ensuring all expenses are accounted for.  


Find out what’s possible with Logis by ESO

2024 Quarterly Product Updates 

Throughout 2024, the ESO Product team shared updates on how ESO platforms continue to improve. These quarterly updates provided a closer look at new features, enhancements, and resources designed to support your work. Check out this year’s product updates here:  

• (Q3/2024) ESO Updates: Quarterly Product Enhancements 

• (Q2/2024) ESO Updates: Quarterly Product Enhancements 

• (Q1/2024) ESO Updates: Quarterly Product Enhancements 

Connecting Care: ESO and Pulsara in Action 

Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) in Central Arkansas uses ESO and Pulsara to communicate and share data with their hospital partners, which has helped to both decrease paperwork and improve care.  

Watch the video to hear how MEMS improved care coordination:

ESO and IamResponding: Better Together 

IamResponding, the industry-leading incident alerting and situational awareness communication platform joined forces with ESO to empower first responders in making real-time, data-driven decision-making.  

See how this partnership will transform the industry: 

What Customers Are Saying About ESO Patient Registry 

An easy-to-use registry platform that streamlines day-to-day operations while providing better patient outcomes, there’s a lot our customers love about ESO Patient Registry.  

Hear what our customers have to say: 

Looking Ahead 

We hope you enjoyed reflecting on 2024. It was a big year for product innovation at ESO and we are incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made in working together towards our mission. As we move into 2025, ESO is committed to continuing this momentum. With new product updates, expanded partnerships, and a focus on customer collaboration, we look forward to helping agencies achieve even greater results in the year ahead. 

There’s a lot of other achievements and big ideas that happened in the last 12 months. To read more on the data-driven innovations that came out of the ESO community and the research done by the ESO team, check out the blog post below. 

Year in Review: ESO Research and Data That Shaped 2024 

The post Year in Review: Product Innovation and Progress from 2024 appeared first on ESO.

Earlier in the year, we released the 2024 ESO EMS, Fire Service, and Hospital Trend Reports, which forecasted the trends ESO experts believed would shape each industry. The 2024 ESO Trends Reports explored topics such as the growing demands on first responders and healthcare workers, improving first responder safety, and addressing gaps in care delivery. These priorities shaped many of the insights and research released throughout the year.

While much was accomplished in 2024, here are some of the highlights, white papers, and research that defined our journey:

Pioneering Research for Emergency Services

Aggregate data is an incredibly powerful tool for transforming first responders’ ability to serve their communities. With contributions from over 2,700 EMS agencies, fire departments, and hospitals across the U.S., the ESO Data Collaborative  provides one of the largest datasets for public safety and healthcare research, including studies on topics like airway management, cardiac care, and firefighter safety.

These findings help agencies improve health outcomes and make informed decisions about responder safety. ESO’s research also produces practical resources, such as white papers and guides, that agencies can use to implement these insights in the field.

Using the Power of Data to Drive Change

Released on April 2, 2024

The ESO Data Collaborative fuels research and helps agencies measure and improve operational performance. With aggregate insights from this extensive dataset, the annual ESO EMS, Fire Service, and Trauma Indices provide a detailed view of performance metrics compared to organizations across the U.S. These indices also share best practices to help agencies identify and address areas for improvement.

Read the 2024 ESO EMS Index

Read the 2024 ESO Fire Service Index

Post-Resuscitation Epinephrine Vs. Norepinephrine in Cardiac Arrest

Released in May 2024

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are both commonly used as prehospital vasopressors in the United States. However, previous research has suggested that epinephrine post-ROSC may be associated with increased chances of rearrest and mortality in comparison to norepinephrine.

Using target trial emulation methodology made possible by ESO data, this study aimed to review both methodologies to see if epinephrine did in fact increase changes of negative outcomes in order to help guide industry decision making. To better inform your own post-resuscitation practices, check out the full study below.

READ THE RESEARCH

The Threat That Burns On: Protecting Firefighters from Carcinogenic Exposure

Released on June 28, 2024 

Firefighters face significant risks from exposure to harmful carcinogens during and after responses. This year, we released “The Threat That Burns On: Carcinogenic Exposure and The Importance of Decontamination Procedures for Firefighters,” a white paper that outlines practical steps to reduce contamination on gear and equipment.

ACCESS THE WHITE PAPER

Longitudinal Changes in Emergency Medical Services Advanced Airway Management

Released on August 22, 2024

Playing a crucial role in resuscitating patients from life-threatening conditions, such as cardiac arrest, trauma and respiratory failure, airway management is an incredibly important intervention, yet its practice can shift greatly from agency to agency.

This study used ESO data and aimed to examine longitudinal trends in endotracheal intubation (ETI) and supraglottic airway (SGA) utilization nationally in order to better understand and improve airway management overall.

READ THE RESEARCH

When Do Minutes Matter? Prioritizing 911 Calls When Demand Exceeds Availability

Released on October 17, 2024

Responding to 911 calls is one of the most critical aspects of emergency care – but how do agencies decide which calls need immediate attention? This year, we released “When Do Minutes Matter? Prioritizing 911 Calls When Demand Exceeds Availability,” a white paper exploring a recent study in collaboration with eight EMS Systems and their dispatch centers examining 911 prioritization systems that shows only 10% of 911 calls require a lights-and-sirens response.

The report provides practical strategies for identifying high-priority calls and aligning resources to improve response times without compromising patient care.

ACCESS THE WHITE PAPER

The Effectiveness of Numerical Cincinnati Stroke Scale as a Stroke Severity Screening Tool

Released on November 19, 2024

The numerical Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS) was developed to broadly screen for strokes and is one of the simpler scales available to do so. Previous research has shown that CPSS performs similarly to other screening tools designed to detect stroke severity.

This study used ESO research to add to the body of work surrounding those findings. It found that this simpler, numerical scale had comparable results to more complex screening tools including C-STAT, FAST-ED, and BE-FAST and could be a good alternative option for maintaining accuracy.

READ THE RESEARCH

Another Successful Wave 2024 Filled with Data-Driven Insights

Once a year, the brightest minds in first response reunite for four days of networking, collaboration, and thought-provoking sessions. Held in Austin, Texas, from April 2–5, Wave 2024 brought together 1,275 attendees, 74 sessions, and countless opportunities to explore how data can empower teams and improve outcomes.

This year’s conference highlighted topics such as responder safety, operational efficiency, and improving patient outcomes. Attendees left with actionable insights and strategies to bring back to their organizations.

Missed Wave 2024 or want to revisit the highlights? Check out our recap blogs for the top insights from the conference:

Get the top fire and EMS insights from Wave 2024 

Get the top hospital insights from Wave 2024 

Want to know what makes Wave a must-attend event? Watch the video to hear directly from attendees.

Want to join fellow data enthusiasts from across the country and bring home actionable insights for improving your organization’s process? It’s time to grab your ticket for Wave 2025 happening in Austin, Texas from April 22-25, 2025.

Register for Wave 2025

Looking Ahead

As we close out 2024, we’re turning our attention to what lies ahead. The coming year will bring exciting new research projects, innovative tools, and continued collaboration with our customers to tackle emerging challenges in the public health and safety industries.

The post Year in Review: ESO Research and Data That Shaped 2024 appeared first on ESO.

Tracking your department’s data year after year helps you see where you’re doing well and where there’s room to improve. Understanding the types of incidents you handle most often, the areas that need prevention efforts, and ways to protect your firefighters are all steps toward improving your response.

Understanding incident types and trends

Knowing the types of incidents your department responds to most often is a good place to start. The 2024 ESO Fire Service Index shows that:

• 67% of all calls are EMS-related, while 3% are fire-related.
• Among fire-related calls, the top three incident types are:
  
  1. Structure fires (36%)
  2. Natural vegetation fires (21%)
  3. Outside rubbish fires (21%)
     
     

For departments serving wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas, the rise in natural vegetation fires highlights the importance of being ready for these incidents. Community education programs focused on fire-wise practices, such as clearing debris and managing controlled burns, can help reduce risks and prevent fires from starting in the first place.

Safety is more than a priority – it’s essential

Firefighter safety extends beyond the fireground and has long-lasting effects on their health. Research from ESO, based on data from more than 31,000 personnel across 581 agencies, shows that:

• Only 8% of firefighters documented fire-related exposure, but 82% of those performed at least one on-scene decontamination procedure.
• Fewer than 4% documented all recommended best practices, such as using soapy water to clean PPE, wiping exposed areas, and sealing contaminated gear.
  
  

These practices are critical in reducing exposure to harmful carcinogens. Studies, including those conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), show that firefighters are at a 9% higher risk of cancer diagnoses and a 14% higher risk of cancer-related deaths compared to the general U.S. population. The longer a firefighter spends on the fireground, the greater their risk.

Learn more about these risks and actionable solutions in the ESO white paper, The Threat That Burns On: Carcinogenic Exposure and the Importance of Decontamination Procedures for Firefighters.

So, what can your department do to improve your response?  

Track and improve response times

Your response time is a good place to begin. The 2024 ESO Fire Service Index shows that the median turnout time for fire calls was 1 minute, 12 seconds, which is better than the NFPA benchmark of 1 minute, 20 seconds. The median travel time for fire calls was 4 minutes, meeting the NFPA standard.

To improve further, incorporating a timer with a notification system into your processes can help track turnout times and identify delays. Immediately completing reports once all units are cleared also allows your department to more accurately track data and provide actionable feedback to your crew about performance.

Be prepared for wildland fires

Wildland fire incidents are on the rise, with over 42,000 calls recorded in 2023, according to the 2024 ESO Fire Service Index. Early detection plays an important role in reducing delays, especially in wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas where the combination of vegetation and structures increases fire risks. Collaborating with landowners to install detection systems and investing in foundational training programs like S-130/190 can help crews respond effectively and safely.

WUI environments present unique challenges, requiring careful preparation. Strategies such as creating evacuation plans, identifying staging areas, and conducting controlled burns are essential for limiting the spread of fires. These proactive measures, paired with prevention efforts tailored to WUI-specific risks, can significantly improve outcomes during fire responses.

Focus on firefighter health

Firefighter health is a key priority as departments work to reduce the risks associated with carcinogenic exposure. The ESO Research Roundtable: The Importance of Firefighter Decontamination Procedures is a resource created to help departments start meaningful conversations about improving decontamination practices. Building on insights from ESO’s white paper, The Threat That Burns On, the ESO Research Roundtable offers practical talking points and strategies to address gaps in safety protocols. Departments can use this guide to review current practices, identify areas for improvement, and encourage consistent habits, such as cleaning PPE thoroughly, documenting exposures, and isolating contaminated gear. These steps, supported by structured discussions, can lead to safer outcomes for crews both on and off the fireground.

Better decisions start with better data

Big changes are happening in the fire service industry, and data is at the forefront.  On the industry level, the upcoming transition from NFIRS to NERIS as the new emergency reporting standard in the U.S. introduces changes in how data is collected and reported, making it important for departments to have reliable systems in place. On the organizational level, accurate data helps fire departments track performance, improve safety, and adjust to the evolving reporting standards. ESO Fire RMS meets state and national compliance requirements – including NERIS – and supports these efforts by helping departments manage incident reporting, inspections, hydrants, and other operational needs.

Good data is more than numbers – it’s a resource for making informed decisions that improve outcomes for firefighters and the communities they serve. Compiled from 2,269 departments and representing over 6.5 million incidents from January 1 through December 31, 2023, the 2024 ESO Fire Service Index is designed to be used as a baseline to see how your organization aligns nationally across key performance metrics, such as the documentation of decontamination procedures, call response times, most common response types and more. Interested in seeing how your department compares? Read the full 2024 ESO Fire Service Index.

The post Timing Isn’t Everything: Key Factors for Fire Response appeared first on ESO.

A new era in emergency response 

NERIS, designed to replace NFIRS, has now completed its beta phase and is entering the first stage of rollout. With near real-time access to data, NERIS will offer valuable insights into emergency response across a range of scenarios, from fires to emerging threats.

The biggest update to emergency response in the past 50 years, NERIS’ importance cannot be overstated. It is a product of the hard work and dedication of industry members from around the country and is built by firefighters for firefighters. Once implemented, it will give your department unprecedented access to its data while reducing the burden of collection.  

For a look back at NERIS developments leading up to this launch, see our previous blog update covering the beta phase and earlier milestones. 

NERIS Version 1 Launch: Onboarding 100 selected departments 

On November 4, 2024, NERIS Version 1 launched with more than 100 departments participating nationwide, representing a variety of department types across all 50 states. This milestone marks the transition from beta testing to operational use and establishes NERIS as a continually improving system built for the future. 

Key features in NERIS Version 1 

Version 1 is focused on addressing limitations in current systems. With the existing NFIRS system, limited data access makes it difficult to understand vulnerabilities and areas for improvement until it’s too late. NERIS is changing that by providing near real-time access to information, giving departments a fuller understanding of each response and delivering immediate feedback that can support improved training.

This access to data will also help departments paint a more data-driven picture for elected officials when requesting additional funds or resources. Departments will be able to better measure where their firefighters are making a difference–from risk-escalation to life-saving rescues.  

Collectively, the insights gathered through NERIS are expected to help the fire service identify trends sooner, potentially preventing tragic outcomes. For example, NERIS would have identified the risks surrounding lithium batteries a lot quicker than the current NFIRS system.

Here are a few of the key features you can look forward to on the NERIS platform: 

• Incident type without numeric codes: Good news, you’ll no longer need to remember codes. NERIS will now mention incidents by name alongside the option to add additional response types to accurately capture incident type and complexity. Tabs for tracking rescues, casualties, and injuries are also expected to provide a fuller picture of the impact of each response. 

• Multiple memberships: NERIS is designed to allow personnel affiliated with multiple departments to access information for all associated departments in one place 

• Better dashboard insights: The planned dashboard will include a recent incidents tab with a geo-spatial map that departments can filter, customize, and interact with. 

• Geolocation services: This feature will map out individual responses, giving your departments a better understanding of response patterns and identifying areas where teams are primarily focused.
   

What’s the current timeline? 

The roll-out will be taking place over the next few years. Here are few of the important upcoming milestones happening between the remainder of 2024 through 2026: 

2024: Development and launch 

This year has been incredibly productive. We’ve already seen the release of beta NERIS Core Data Schemas and data dictionary, prototype testing and evaluation, and the beta version launch. The latest step in the process was the NERIS v1.0 launch that happened on November 4, 2024, and it will be shortly followed by phase one of onboarding for fire departments nationwide.

2025: Hybrid reporting year

In 2025, there will be continued development through multiple software releases along with planning surrounding the decommissioning of NFIRS. Since it is a hybrid year, departments will begin the migration in phases. Because there’s no dual reporting, your team will need to decide when they’re ready and discuss with vendors.

Current goals for 2025 include:  

• February: 500 additional departments onboarded  

• Summer: 1,500 additional departments onboarded  

• December: 5,000 additional departments onboarded  

2026: Complete decommissioning of NFIRS

Starting January 1, 2026, all fire departments will fully transition to NERIS for incident reporting, and NFIRS will be decommissioned. Departments that haven’t completed onboarding by this date will finalize the process as NERIS becomes the national standard. 

Preparing for NERIS

NERIS will be an incredible tool for departments, especially for presenting data-driven cases for funding and support. That being said, NERIS will only be as effective as its data, so it’s important to share the department information necessary.

To ensure a smooth transition, each department should appoint a data lead who is familiar with the department’s data and infrastructure. This person will manage onboarding, training, and ongoing system updates. If you haven’t already, begin training and orienting your crews with the available resources.  

If your department currently uses an RMS for incident data collection, you can continue using it during the transition. The new system is compatible with current vendors, and if you use an NFIRS data entry tool, NERIS provides options to support that as well. 

Finally, if there are any local departments around you that are not up to date with NERIS, share any and all resources and information you have to help get them started. This migration is a team effort.

How ESO can help with your transition

ESO is fully prepared to help with your migration to NERIS. From onboarding to data collection for reporting, our team is trained to ensure your transition is as seamless as possible. For more details about how we’re supporting this change, you can also read our FAQs About NERIS.

To access the most up-to-date resources, you can visit usfa.fema.gov/nfirs/neris/.

Catch up on all things NERIS and ESO! Check out our past NERIS updates in previous blogposts and resources: 

• Still on track: NERIS Beta Launch and Latest Developments 

• It’s Happening: The Latest NERIS Development Updates 

• It’s Coming: The New NERIS Standard 

• Frequently asked NERIS questions  

The post It’s almost time: the upcoming launch of NERIS Version 1 appeared first on ESO.

To protect communities effectively, fire departments need to prepare in advance, respond quickly, and educate the public on fire safety.

Key Takeaways on Wildland Fires

Human activity, such as unauthorized burns, remains a common cause for wildland fires, but many incidents lacked clear documentation, making prevention efforts more difficult. Here are some important takeways from the 2024 ESO Fire Service:

• Unauthorized burns were responsible for nearly a third of wildland fires, with about 25,000 incidents reported.
• Brush and grass fires together accounted for almost 31,000 incidents, showing how quickly these fires can spread in open areas.
• While many causes remain undocumented (58%) or undetermined (21%), known causes include debris burning, equipment use, and natural events.
• Human-related activities like open burns and misuse of fire are recurring contributors to outdoor fires.

Steps Departments Can Take

Fire departments can reduce fire risks and improve response by focusing on preparation, training, and prevention. Practical steps include:

• Work with landowners to set up early detection tools to identify fires quickly.
• Train crews with programs like S190/130 and provide the right gear for wildland firefighting.
• Develop response plans for high-risk areas, including evacuation routes and staging locations.
• Promote safe burning practices with fire breaks, permits, and public education to prevent unauthorized burns.

Get the Full Insights in the 2024 ESO Fire Service Index

These takeaways represent just a portion of the insights available in the 2024 ESO Fire Service Index. The Index provides a closer look into  fire trends and benchmarks to help departments improve response strategies.

Read the full 2024 ESO Fire Service Index here to explore the data and learn how your department can stay prepared and keep your community safe.

The post The Threat of WUI Fires and How to Prevent Them appeared first on ESO.