SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

NEMSAC is authorized under Section 31108 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act of 2012, codified at 42 U.S.C. 300d-4 as a Federal Advisory Committee. The purpose of NEMSAC is to serve as a nationally recognized council of emergency medical services (EMS) representatives to provide advice to and consult with:

a. The Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services (FICEMS) on matters relating to EMS issues; and

b. The Secretary of Transportation on matters relating to EMS issues affecting DOT.

NEMSAC provides an important national forum for the non-Federal deliberation of national EMS issues and serves as a platform for advice on DOT's national EMS activities. NEMSAC also provides advice and recommendations to the FICEMS.

II. Agenda

At the meeting, the agenda will cover the following topics:

• NHTSA Initiatives
• Updates from Federal Partners
• FICEMS Strategic Plan for National Implementation of Prehospital Blood Transfusion
• Request for Consultation and Advice
• General Informational Sessions
• Strategic Planning for NEMSAC
• Public Comment Period

III. Background on FICEMS Strategic Plan for National Implementation of Prehospital Blood Transfusion

Severe bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death in trauma patients. Evidence demonstrates that prompt prehospital blood transfusion can save an estimated 37 percent of trauma patients experiencing severe bleeding, whereas every minute of delay increases mortality risk by 11 percent. The draft FICEMS Strategic Plan for National Implementation of Prehospital Blood Transfusion (2026-2028) aims to prevent 10,000 deaths annually and achieve a 5 percent reduction in overall trauma mortality from severe bleeding by 2028.

The Council will deliberate on a letter from the Designated Federal Officer requesting consultation and advice on the FICEMS Strategic Plan for National Implementation of Prehospital Blood Transfusion. The Council will also deliberate on the Request for Information (RFI) published in the Federal Register on October 5, 2026. The RFI solicits public comments on feasibility, operational challenges, data linkage, and logistics associated with meeting the following national targets (key performance indicators or KPIs) across three core pillars:

Goal 1: Integrated Informatics

Pediatric Pre-Arrival Instructions: Increase the percentage of children with life-threatening bleeding post-crash receiving 911 pre-arrival instructions from a calendar year (CY) 2025 baseline of 20 percent to a 2028 target of 25 percent.

Overall Pre-Arrival Instructions: Increase the percentage of all patients with life-threatening bleeding post-crash receiving 911 pre-arrival instructions from a CY 2025 baseline of 20 percent to a 2028 target of 25 percent.

Goal 2: Systems Innovation

Ground EMS Agency Programs: Expand the total number of ground EMS ( printed page 67650) agencies with operational prehospital blood transfusion programs from a CY 2026 baseline of 450 agencies to a 2028 target of 2,028 agencies.

Goal 3: Clinical Excellence

Pediatric Prehospital Transfusion: Increase the percentage of pediatric patients with life-threatening bleeding post-crash receiving prehospital blood transfusion from a CY 2025 baseline of 7 percent to a 2028 target of 28 percent.

Overall Prehospital Transfusion: Increase the percentage of all patients with life-threatening bleeding post-crash receiving prehospital blood transfusion from a CY 2025 baseline of 4 percent to a 2028 target of 16 percent.

IV. Public Participation

This meeting will be open to the public. We are committed to providing equal access to this meeting for all participants. People with disabilities who need accommodation should send a request to the individual in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice no later than October 26, 2026.

A period of time will be allotted for comments from members of the public attending the meeting. Members of the public may present questions and comments to the Council using the live chat feature available during the meeting. Members of the public may also submit materials, questions, and comments in advance to the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

Members of the public wishing to reserve time to speak directly to the Council during the meeting must submit a request. The request must include the name, contact information (address, phone number, and email address), and organizational affiliation of the individual wishing to address NEMSAC; it must also include a written copy of prepared remarks and must be forwarded to the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice no later than October 26, 2026.

All advance submissions will be reviewed by the Council Chairperson and Designated Federal Officer. If approved, advance submissions shall be circulated to NEMSAC representatives for review prior to the meeting. All advance submissions will become part of the official record of the meeting.

Authority:42 U.S.C. 300d-4(b); 49 CFR part 1.95(i)(4).

91 FR 67649