New York State Department of Health - 2008 Basic Life Support Adult & Pediatric Treatment Protocols - EMT-B and AEMT

Sep 23, 2026

2008 New York State (NYS) statewide Basic Life Support (BLS) Adult and Pediatric Treatment Protocols establish minimally acceptable treatment standards for adult and pediatric basic life support used by EMT-B and AEMT. The protocols replace the 2002 set through multiple revisions, with revision dates noted on each protocol page. Guidance emphasizes flexible standards that require good clinical judgment, describes the general approach to prehospital management, and outlines assumptions about medical control and prior patient assessment. It also defines goals for rapid, safe definitive care and coordination with ALS intercept when indicated.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages240

Reading Time10 h 5 min

AccessFree to download

GENERAL APPROACH

General Approach to Prehospital Patient Management GA – 1

MEDICAL

Abdominal Pain (Non-Traumatic) M – 1

Altered Mental Status (Non-Traumatic and without Respiratory or Cardiovascular Complications) M – 2

Anaphylactic Reaction with Respiratory Distress and Hypoperfusion M – 3

Behavioral Emergencies M – 4

Adult Cardiac Related Problem M – 5

Cold Emergencies M – 6

Pediatric Respiratory Distress/Failure M – 7

Heat Emergencies M – 8

Adult Obstructed Airway M – 9

Pediatric

New York State Department of Health Bureau of Emergency Medical Services Statewide Basic Life Support Adult & Pediatric Treatment Protocols EMT-B and AEMT 2008 Updated 11/20/08 Preface and Acknowledgments The 2008 New York State (NYS) Statewide Basic Life Support Adult & Pediatric Treatment Protocols replaces the former 2002 protocols with a number of revised protocols that have been added to the 2002 protocols over the years. As there have been a significant number of individual revisions during the years we are issuing this new set of protocols dated 2008. Each of the protocols that were revised has the date of revision on the bottom of the protocol page. These various revisions were sent to EMS agencies and EMS Course Sponsors previously either by mailing or electronic distribution. There are no revised protocols contained in the 2008 NYS BLS protocols that have not been sent to you before. However, we recommend your training officer review these protocols and provide an update to your members/employees as appropriate. We would like to acknowledge the members of the New York State EMS Council’s Medical Standards Committee for the time and effort given to developing this set of protocols. In addition, we would like to recognize the efforts of the Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committees (REMACS) for their input and review. Mark Henry, MD, FACEP Medical Director Edward Wronski, Director State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee Bureau of Emergency Medical Services NYS EMT-B Basic Life Support Protocols NYS EMT-B Basic Life Support Protocols Introduction The 2008 NYS Statewide Basic Life Support Adult and Pediatric Treatment Protocols designed by the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services of the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Emergency Medical Services Council. These protocols have been reviewed and approved by the New York State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (SEMAC) and the New York State Emergency Medical Services Council (SEMSCO) . The protocols reflect the current minimally acceptable statewide treatment standards for adult and pediatric basic life support (BLS) used by the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) . A protocol manual for Certified First Responders (CFRs) will be published separately. These protocols are not intended to be absolute and ultimate treatment doctrines, but rather standards which are flexible to accommodate the complexity of the problems in patient management presented to Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMTs) in the field. These protocols should be considered as a model or standard by which all patients should be treated. Since patients do not always fit into a "cook book" approach, these protocols are not a substitute for GOOD CLINICAL JUDGMENT, especially when a situation occurs which does not fit these standards. This manual includes a protocol for the general approach to the prehospital management of a patient, which is applicable to EMTs and AEMTs, and BLS protocols for the management of specific conditions. These protocols apply to both adults and children. In several cases, protocols designed specifically for adults or children are included. These are identified as such in their titles. Several assumptions have been made in developing the specific protocols. First, the EMT or AEMT has followed the protocol outlining the general approach to the prehospital management of the patient, that both the subjective and objective patient information has been analyzed to arrive at an appropriate treatment plan. Secondly, specific treatment protocols are referred to once the patient’s problem has been identified. Obviously, significant indirect (off-line) medical control has been assumed in the development of these protocols. It was also assumed that appropriate local direct (on-line) medical control at both the basic life

FAQs

What does the 2008 NYS BLS adult and pediatric protocol update replace?

It replaces the former 2002 protocols with revised protocols added over the years.

How are EMT-B and AEMT expected to use these protocols in the field?

They should follow the general approach protocol first, then use the specific protocols once the patient’s problem is identified, while applying good clinical judgment when situations do not fit the standards.

What is the stated goal of prehospital emergency medical care in these protocols?

To provide definitive care as rapidly and safely as the situation indicates, without deterioration and, when possible, with improvement.

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Anna Hans