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KnowEMS Webinar | EMS in a Blackout Situation

By project KnowEMS staff

The KnowEMS Consortium will host a crucial webinar on June 5th, titled “EMS in a Blackout Situation.

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Key information

Date(s)
-
Attendance type
Online

Description

As Europe continues to grapple with energy vulnerabilities and climate-related disruptions, the resilience of emergency medical services (EMS) during blackout events is under increasing pressure. In response to this growing concern, the KnowEMS Consortium will host a crucial webinar on June 5th, titled “EMS in a Blackout Situation.”

The session will bring together key voices in emergency preparedness to explore how EMS agencies in Portugal and Spain responded to the widespread power outage of April 28th, 2025, and what lessons have emerged for the future.

The April blackout tested healthcare infrastructures in unprecedented ways, with hospitals, ambulances, and emergency call centers facing significant operational constraints. This webinar will dissect the real-time challenges, preparedness levels, and adaptive strategies implemented during this critical period.

Featured Speakers:

  • Frieder Kircher, an expert in German research on blackout scenarios, will outline the broader European context, focusing on the challenges faced by vulnerable populations during power outages.
  • Tiago Augusto, from INEM – Portugal’s National Institute for Medical Emergency, will present an analysis of preparedness protocols and emergency adaptations during the blackout.
  • Paloma Rey, from SAMUR–Protección Civil, will offer insights into the operational management of Madrid’s emergency services during the April 28th blackout.

Key Topics:

  • How EMS services in Madrid and Portugal managed continuity of care during the blackout
  • Real-world obstacles encountered, from communication breakdowns to limited access to power-dependent equipment
  • Strategic measures taken before, during, and after the event
  • Lessons learned and ongoing improvements in EMS resilience planning

This event is not just about reviewing the past—it’s about preparing for the future. As extreme events become more frequent, strengthening EMS capacity to protect lives under any circumstance becomes ever more critical.

 The webinar is free and open to professionals, planners, researchers, and anyone interested in emergency preparedness.

📅 Date: June 5, 2025, 16H00 CET