ND EMS Association

10/16/2026

The Southwest Region Think Tanks are making a comeback!

Join us Monday, November 2, at 4:00 PM MST as the Southwest Region Directors of NDEMSA bring back an opportunity for EMS providers and leaders to get together, share ideas, talk about challenges, and learn from one another.

One of the best things about EMS is that we don't have to figure everything out on our own. Chances are, another service has faced the same challenges you're dealing with, and sometimes a simple conversation can make all the difference.

Not from the Southwest Region? That's perfectly fine! We encourage EMS providers and leaders from across North Dakota and beyond to join us. We all face many of the same challenges, and there's a lot we can learn from each other's experiences, ideas, and successes.

We're going to keep things simple and meet once a month. These Think Tanks are meant to be a place for open discussion, sharing ideas, and working together to find solutions. If a topic needs more attention, we can break into smaller work groups to dig into it and then come back together the following month to share what we've learned and the progress we've made.

The more voices we have in the conversation, the more we can all take away from it. Bring your questions, share what's working for your service, or just come listen and see what others are doing. Everyone has something to contribute, and everyone is welcome!

Join us here: http://meet.goto.com/NDEMSA

10/15/2026

Registration is OPEN for the Southeast Regional NDEMSA Conference. Visit https://www.ndemsa.org/Southeast-Regional-Conference for all details.

10/09/2026

Reminder that ND EMS Foundation Scholarships are due November 1st! Visit https://www.ndemsf.org/2026-Scholarship-Opportunities for more info.

10/08/2026

📣 SE Think Tank Update

We’ve decided to cancel the upcoming SE Think Tank (Oct 12th) so we can focus on wrapping up conference planning and getting SE Conference registration open!

Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. We’re excited to share more about the conference soon! Stay tuned for registration details! 🎉

10/05/2026

SW Regional Siren Award Recipient is Jon Engelstad

The Regional Siren Award recognizes an individual driver who is not licensed above the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) level. This individual goes above and beyond the call of duty, shows tremendous professionalism and a strong dedication to EMS. The nominee must be a member of the North Dakota EMS Association.

Provided Narrative: Jon brings years of EMS experience from services across the state, including a decade of dedicated service to New Salem Ambulance. During his ten years with our service, he has served as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), driver, and former Squad Leader. In addition to his volunteer EMS commitment, Jon serves full-time as a Deputy with the Morton County Sheriff’s Department. Demonstrating an extraordinary dedication to public safety, Jon consistently logs over 150 hours per month on call for New Salem Ambulance to ensure rapid response when emergency calls come in. We extend our deepest gratitude to Jon for his decade of unwavering service to our service and community.

Congratulations Jon!

10/05/2026

SW Regional Service of the Year Award goes to Billings County EMS.

The Regional Service of the year award goes to an EMS system that exemplifies outstanding professionalism and service to its community would be a great candidate for the Regional Service of the Year Award. The intent of this award is to recognize a service that significantly contributed to the provision, development and improvement of pre-hospital care and EMS education in their community. Any EMS organization licensed or certified in the state of North Dakota, including rescue, quick response units, industrial services, etc., is eligible. The regional winners will be forwarded for consideration for the EMS Service of the Year award presented at the Annual North Dakota EMS Annual Conference and Tradeshow.

Summary of Narrative:
Billings County EMS is a highly dedicated rural EMS agency that provides exceptional care to residents and thousands of visitors in and around Medora, the Badlands, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park. In 2026, the service played a key role during the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and the visit of President Donald J. Trump, ensuring seamless emergency coverage during a major influx of visitors while maintaining uninterrupted care for the community.

Every day, Billings County EMS responds to emergencies across remote terrain, scenic roadways, campgrounds, hiking trails, and neighboring towns, requiring strong clinical skills and close coordination with partner agencies. The service is deeply committed to community education—offering CPR, First Aid, and Stop the Bleed courses—and invests heavily in ongoing training for its providers. Known for professionalism, teamwork, and compassionate care, the agency consistently meets extraordinary challenges despite limited rural resources.

For its dedication to patient care, community service, and regional EMS advancement, Billings County EMS is highly deserving of the Regional Service of the Year Award.

Congratulations Billings County EMS!

10/05/2026

SW Region's Rising Star Award Recipient- Casey McGrath

The Rising Star Award was established to recognize an individual, Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), who is new to the field of pre-hospital care, shows rapid improvement, exemplary skills and takes on added responsibilities. The nominee must have less than three years of experience and be a current member of the North Dakota EMS Association.

Provided Narrative: Casey’s passion for emergency medical services began in high school during his very first ride-along. As soon as he turned 18, he stepped up to serve as a CPR driver in New Salem, volunteering on his days off from his role at the local nursing home. After earning his EMT certification, Casey joined Metro Area Ambulance in September 2025, continuing to assist in New Salem whenever possible. Known for exceptional patient care and a positive mindset, Casey is highly respected by his peers and a valued partner on shift. His compassion for others is recognized by all of his coworkers and his patients' families, other entities and his family.

Congratulations Casey!

10/05/2026

10/04/2026

The "early bird" got more than a worm today! Kyle, man of his word, "if registration hits more than 120 people, I will bring my chicken", rode in with his chicken to deliver announcements and give away some fabulous door prizes!

10/03/2026

Great Education going on in the Southwest! One more day, walk-ins welcome in Medora!