NHTSA Hosts EMS Week Event

Save A Life Day Event Honors our Nation’s EMS Clinicians

Federal leaders, DC public safety and emergency communications organizations came together for Save A Life Day

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) recognized National EMS Week 2026 with a special Save A Life Day Event held on May 21, 2026, in Washington D.C. This was the largest federal event celebrating EMS Week since President Ford authorized EMS Week in 1974.

Improving Outcomes, Together

This year’s theme, Improving Outcomes, Together, was exemplified by federal leaders, D.C. public safety, emergency communications organizations and national associations coming together to celebrate EMS. Thank you to all of the event partners—including the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS), the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), D.C. Fire and EMS, D.C. Office of Unified Communications, American Red Cross, George Washington University, EMS national associations and more—who helped make Save A Life Day a great success. You played an important role in this event and in honoring the lifesaving work of EMS clinicians across the country.

FICEMS Prehospital Blood Transfusion Panel

Save A Life Day on May 21 at the Department of Transportation (USDOT) kicked off with a special Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS) panel on prehospital blood transfusion moderated by NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison. Blood on Board: The New Standard of Care, featured a number of prehospital blood transfusion experts who discussed how prehospital blood programs improve outcomes for trauma patients. Panelists covered program successes, highlighting real-world implementation, lessons learned and efforts for nationwide adoption, as well as the field's future direction.

USDOT Employees Donated Blood to American Red Cross

The event also included a blood drive coordinated by the American Red Cross, where USDOT employees donated blood, including first time donors. This drive helped build up the local blood supply, highlighting the importance of blood donation and raising awareness for prehospital blood transfusion.

Thanks to USDOT employees who took part in the American Red Cross blood drive

Program Speakers, Apparatus Tours and Lifesaving Demonstrations

Additional Save A Life Day activities took place outside in front of USDOT headquarters. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison addressed the crowd to recognize EMS Week and stressed how innovations like prehospital blood transfusions are helping EMS save even more lives. The USDOT’s Federal Highway Administration Administrator Sean McMaster shared the agency's support for emergency responders and commitment to improving post-crash care efforts, including Traffic Incident Management (TIM).

Newcastle-Henry County (Indiana) EMS Chief Justin Harrison and Indiana DOT employee and crash survivor Angela Johnson shared a moving account of the motor vehicle accident that resulted in traumatic injuries for Johnson. Sharing her personal story of survival and recovery, Johnson’s harrowing event illustrates the lifesaving impact of rapid EMS response and prehospital blood transfusion.

Crash survivor Angela Johnson shared her story about the lifesaving power of prehospital blood transfusion

Save A Life Day attendees had the opportunity to tour D.C. Fire and EMS apparatus and the D.C. Office of Unified Communications’ mobile 911 center, Tactical Homeland Operations Response (THOR) vehicle. George Washington University Hospital provided Stop the Bleed training and D.C. Fire and EMS offered blood transfusion and CPR demonstrations. The Congressional Fire Services Institute, D.C. EMS for Children Program and NHTSA shared important safety information.