In this special 2026 EMS Week episode of the JEMS podcast, Mike Brown hosts Gamunu “Gam” Wijetunge from NHTSA’s Office of EMS and Dr. Nicholas Cozzi, an emergency physician from Chicago. The conversation centers on a significant shift in emergency medicine: moving high-level clinical interventions like blood transfusions directly to the point of injury. With roadway fatalities hovering around 40,000 annually, NHTSA is prioritizing "post-crash care" by aggressive funding through the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program.

Beyond the equipment, the guests discuss the power of data linkage between dispatch centers and hospitals to measure bystander intervention and long-term patient survival. Dr. Cozzi highlights the human element, sharing how simple acts—like sending letters of praise to field clinicians—boost morale and strengthen the bond between medical directors and front-line providers. From grant deadlines on May 26th to Save a Life Day demonstrations in D.C., this episode outlines how federal advocacy and local clinical excellence are converging to save more lives in the field.