Putnam County EMS Council

10/15/2026

When the call comes in, paramedics never know what’s waiting for them.

A heart attack. A crash. A child in danger. A stranger’s worst day. A life hanging in the balance.

From executive producers Randolph Mantooth, Kevin Tighe, Steve Buscemi, and the director of BURN, this groundbreaking documentary spends a year with a diverse group of paramedics around the U.S. as they confront the physical danger, emotional weight, and impossible pressure of a job most people only glimpse from the side of the road.

This is a film about the cost of saving lives, and the courage it takes to keep showing up. INTO THE UNKNOWN takes audiences inside the ambulance and beyond the uniform to reveal the human beings who risk everything when the rest of us need help most.

INTO THE UNKNOWN will be coming to theaters for its first showing in New York State here in Carmel, NY at Box Office Cinema (formerly Carmel Cinema) November 16th and 17th. Ticket information will be available soon.

To learn more see: https://intotheunknowndoc.com/

09/05/2026

🎉 Congratulations, Samantha Hartshorn! 🎉

The Putnam County EMS Council is proud to congratulate Samantha Hartshorn on being named the 2025 EMS Clinical Partner of Excellence by the Hudson Valley Regional EMS Council! 🏆🚑

This well-deserved recognition highlights Samantha’s dedication, professionalism, and commitment to supporting EMS providers and delivering excellence in patient care throughout our region.

👏 Please join us in congratulating Samantha on this outstanding achievement! We are grateful for all that she does to support our EMS community.

Congratulations, Samantha! We are proud to celebrate you! ❤️🚑

08/18/2026

📢 CME DAY UPDATE – EVENT POSTPONED

The Putnam County EMS Council has made the difficult decision to postpone our upcoming CME Day due to a family emergency.
We know many of you were looking forward to this event, and we sincerely appreciate the support we have received from our presenters, agencies, providers, and community partners.

We are currently working to identify a new date in October. Once the date is confirmed, we will share updated information regarding the schedule and registration.
Our goal remains the same: bringing together EMS professionals, educators, and community partners to provide quality continuing education and continue strengthening the EMS system throughout Putnam County.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the rescheduled Putnam County EMS Council CME Day! 🚑💙
Stay tuned for the new date and additional information.

08/07/2026

**📢 The Agenda is Here! | Putnam County EMS Council CME Day – Putnam County Edition**

We're excited to officially unveil the agenda for our **Putnam County Edition CME Day**! Join EMS professionals from across the region for a full day of education, collaboration, and hands-on learning.

🗓 **Date:** **Sunday, September 27, 2026**
📍 **Location:** Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services
112 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512

This year's program features a wide variety of topics, including:
🧠 Mental Health of the First Responder
🗣️ Aphasia & Autism Awareness
👶 Neonatal Care
❤️ Cardiology Core
🩺 Hands-On I-Gel Airway Skills
👨‍👩‍👧 Adult & Child Protective Services
🚗 Safe Pediatric Transportation
🦮 Guiding Eyes for the Blind in EMS

Whether you're looking to earn CME credits, sharpen your clinical skills, or connect with fellow providers, there's something for everyone!

📋 **Registration will be opening soon**, so keep an eye on our page for the registration link and additional event updates.

We look forward to seeing you on **September 27** for a day dedicated to learning, collaboration, and strengthening EMS in Putnam County! 🚑💙

08/06/2026

📢 Important Guidance for EMS Providers: Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)

The Hudson Valley Regional EMS Council has released interim guidance regarding EMS response to incidents involving New York's Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) law, which became effective on August 5, 2026.
As EMS providers, it is important to understand that:
🚑 MAID paperwork alone is NOT a medical order. A MAID request form, prescription, medication label, or other documentation does not authorize EMS to withhold resuscitation or treatment.
📋 Only valid medical orders—such as a MOLST, eMOLST, or nonhospital DNR/DNI that apply to the patient's current condition—should guide decisions regarding resuscitation when a patient cannot communicate.
⚕️ Patients who have taken MAID medication may change their minds and request treatment at any time. If a patient has decision-making capacity and requests care, EMS should provide treatment in accordance with the NYS Collaborative Treatment Protocols.
🚫 EMS personnel must not administer MAID medication or perform the patient's final act of self-administration.
📞 When there is uncertainty regarding the patient's wishes, applicable medical orders, or the appropriate course of action, contact Medical Control early and follow established protocols.

This advisory serves as interim guidance and should be reviewed by all EMS agencies and providers to ensure a clear understanding of the responsibilities and limitations when responding to these complex incidents.
Please take a few minutes to review the complete advisory and discuss it with your agency's leadership and medical director.

08/03/2026

We are working on finalizing our line up for our CME Day!

We are still looking for some lecturers to assist us in our incredible line up of CMEs.

We currently have CMEs for Safe transport of pediatrics, I Gel, and Mental Health of the First Responder. But we can use a couple more guest to help us out.

If you are interested please contact Nicole Wahlers, or message us.

📅 SAVE THE DATE! 🚑

The Putnam County EMS Council is excited to announce our inaugural CME Day on Sunday, September 27th!

This full day of EMS continuing education will bring together providers from across Putnam County and the surrounding region for high-quality training, networking, and professional development opportunities.

More details, including course offerings, location, registration information, and CME hours, will be announced as we get closer to the event.

👨‍🏫 Interested in teaching?
We are currently seeking instructors who would like to present at CME Day. If you are interested in sharing your knowledge and expertise with fellow EMS providers, please contact Nicole Wahlers at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).

Mark your calendars now—we look forward to making this a great educational event for our EMS community!

06/18/2026

Check out the Training opportunities from Vassar Brothers! Lots of training available through out the year including Neonatal resuscitation and Heat/ drowning emergencies this summer.

06/08/2026

📅 SAVE THE DATE! 🚑

The Putnam County EMS Council is excited to announce our inaugural CME Day on Sunday, September 27th!

This full day of EMS continuing education will bring together providers from across Putnam County and the surrounding region for high-quality training, networking, and professional development opportunities.

More details, including course offerings, location, registration information, and CME hours, will be announced as we get closer to the event.

👨‍🏫 Interested in teaching?
We are currently seeking instructors who would like to present at CME Day. If you are interested in sharing your knowledge and expertise with fellow EMS providers, please contact Nicole Wahlers at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).

Mark your calendars now—we look forward to making this a great educational event for our EMS community!

06/06/2026

🚑 REMINDER: CME Call Audit This Wednesday! 🚑

Join us this Wednesday at 6:00 PM at the Bureau of Emergency Services for our monthly CME Call Audit session.

This is a great opportunity to review recent calls, discuss patient care, and earn CME credit while learning from real-world EMS experiences.

📍 Location: Bureau of Emergency Services
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM

⚠️ Registration is required to receive CME credit.

Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOzYcgexmo_BI4iDPrSes2UJWn-ICjS5s5uv50WX5rrGZo0w/viewform?usp=header

📋 Agencies planning to submit ePCRs for review are asked to contact our QA/QI Coordinator, Nicole Wahlers, at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) prior to the meeting.

We look forward to seeing EMS providers from across Putnam County there!

06/03/2026

Don't forget to register for the QA QI call audit next week!

The first hour will be on stroke calls presented by Dr. Kelly Ng. CME credit will be given for the QA QI.

Registration is required in order to get the CME Credit.

We hope to see you there.