Southwest Virginia Ems Council Inc

09/14/2026

336 PEOPLE TRAINED TODAY!

Today at Virginia High School, students and staff took part in Hands-Only CPR training, learning a lifesaving skill that can make a difference when seconds matter.

The training was supported by staff from the Southwest Virginia EMS Council and members of the Bristol Life Saving Crew.

Hands-Only CPR is a simple lifesaving skill that can be taught in less than two minutes. It is intended for teens and adults who suddenly collapse and are not breathing normally. In just a few minutes today, our students and staff learned a skill they could someday use to save the life of a family member, friend, coworker, classmate, or complete stranger.

A total of 336 Virginia High School students and staff participated today!

We also appreciate Josh Slagle of the Bristol Virginia School Board for supporting today’s event and, more importantly, stepping up and participating in the training himself.

And we’re not finished!

We will be back at Virginia High School tomorrow to train the second half of the student body and staff.

Across State Street, Sullivan County EMS will also be on site at Tennessee High School this week, providing Hands-Only CPR training to their students and staff as they take part in this lifesaving initiative.

Then on Friday night, when Virginia High School takes on Tennessee High School, we’re bringing Hands-Only CPR to the entire community!

Virginia High vs. Tennessee High and the competition goes beyond the football field!

Two Hands-Only CPR stations will be set up at the game, one on each side of the field, giving fans and family members from both schools an opportunity to learn this lifesaving skill.

Each school is competing to see which can achieve the highest percentage of participation among its students and staff.

And if the schools finish tied?

Friday night’s fan participation will be the tiebreaker!

So Bearcats and Vikings, come ready to support your school, learn a skill that could save a life, and help your school take the lead!

No matter which school wins the competition, our entire community wins when more people know how to save a life.

Two minutes. Two hands. One skill that could save a life.

09/13/2026

❤️ Hands-Only CPR Saves Lives! ❤️

This weekend at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, our partners with Sullivan County EMS and the Sullivan County Health Department are helping members of our community learn one of the simplest and most important lifesaving skills: Hands-Only CPR.

When someone suffers sudden cardiac arrest, the actions of a bystander in those first few minutes can make a tremendous difference. Hands-Only CPR is easy to learn, and you never know when you may be the person who has the opportunity to save a life.

We also want to give a special thank you to Neal Osborne with the City of Bristol, Virginia City Council for taking the time today to stop by and learn this lifesaving skill. Community leadership is also about being willing to learn how to help when someone needs you most.

If you’re attending Rhythm & Roots this weekend, stop by, take a few minutes, and learn Hands-Only CPR. You could save a life.

Thank you to Sullivan County EMS and the Sullivan County Health Department for continuing to bring lifesaving education directly into our communities.

Call 911. Push hard. Push fast. Save a life. ❤️

09/09/2026

Just a small sample of what this program will offer.

09/09/2026

09/09/2026

NEW EMS TRAINING PROGRAM ROLLS OUT THIS SUNDAY!

I’m excited to announce that Sports Medicine for EMS: Football & Athletic Event Emergency Care will officially make its first classroom rollout Sunday, September 13, at the 2026 Wise Regional Fire School training weekend.

This program was developed specifically for EMS providers who may find themselves working the sidelines of a football game or other athletic event. It goes beyond simply reviewing sports injuries. We will look at the entire response, from what needs to happen before the whistle to how EMS integrates with athletic trainers, coaches, physicians, school staff, law enforcement, fire/rescue, and other members of the athletic event safety team.

We’ll cover emergency action plans, sideline operations, assessment of the injured athlete, head injuries and concussion, cervical spine injuries and football equipment, sudden cardiac arrest, heat emergencies, orthopedic injuries, communication, transport decisions, and realistic scenarios that bring it all together.

At the center of everything is one simple concept:

ONE TEAM. ONE MISSION. THE ATHLETE COMES FIRST.

This first delivery is also important because the students attending Sunday will help us evaluate the program and identify what we can improve before the next version is released.

📅 Sunday, September 13, 2026
⏰ 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Wise Regional Fire School

Registration is still open, but the deadline has been extended only through Thursday, September 10. The course is listed in Cornerstone OnDemand as Sports Injuries for EMS, and EMS and Fire personnel are invited to attend.

👉 Register @:

https://form.jotform.com/262255339236055

If you provide EMS coverage for high school athletics, community sporting events, football games, or other organized athletics, I hope you’ll join us Sunday.

Prepared Before the Whistle. Ready When It Matters Most.

Sports Medicine for EMS
Southwest Virginia EMS Council
VDH/OEMS Region 1

09/09/2026

Congratulations on a job well done.

Alicia Roland September 8, 2026 News/Press Releases Post navigation Previous Previous post: Washington County Courthouse Closure Extended Due to Microbial Growth

09/06/2026

🚨 IMPORTANT MEDICATION RECALL: EPINEPHRINE INJECTION 🚨

On September 3, 2026, American Regent, Inc. issued a nationwide voluntary recall of three lots of Epinephrine Injection, USP, 1 mg/mL, packaged in 30 mL multidose vials.

Affected product:

* NDC: 0517-3030-01
* Lot: 25128L1C0 — Expiration: August 2026
* Lot: 25280L1C0 — Expiration: October 2026
* Lot: 26108L1C0 — Expiration: July 2027

Reason for the recall:

The manufacturer received reports of leaking and cracked vials, which means the sterility of the medication cannot be assured. The investigation also identified particulate matter including nylon, cellulose, acrylic, polyethylene, and glass in some vials.

Administering contaminated epinephrine, particularly intravenously, could cause serious complications, including blood-vessel blockage, blood clots, pulmonary embolism, inflammation, allergic reactions, infection, permanent organ damage, or death. As of the recall announcement, no related adverse events had been reported.

What this means for EMS agencies:

All agencies should immediately inspect medication inventories, including ambulances, response vehicles, medication bags, station supplies, pharmacies, and training or disaster caches.

If your agency has any of the affected lots:

1. Remove the medication from service immediately.
2. Clearly label and quarantine the affected vials so they cannot be used.
3. Contact your pharmacy, distributor, or supplier for return, replacement, or credit instructions.
4. Notify your agency leadership, pharmacy coordinator, and Operational Medical Director.
5. Confirm that adequate replacement epinephrine is available on all licensed vehicles and response units.
6. Document the inventory check and any recalled medication removed from service.
7. Follow your agency’s medication-recall and adverse-event reporting procedures.

This recall applies specifically to the listed lots of American Regent 1 mg/mL epinephrine in 30 mL multidose vials. It does not include every epinephrine product, single-dose vial, ampule, or autoinjector.

American Regent Customer Service may be reached at 800-645-1706 for return, replacement, or credit information.

Please share this information with all appropriate clinical, pharmacy, logistics, and supervisory personnel.

Additional information is available in the official FDA recall announcement⁠.