Border EMS Research

Our USA Center, led by Dr. Christine Blackburn, has been at the forefront of studying the impact of migration across the U.S. southern land border on fire and EMS personnel. In this section, we share current findings from our research, highlighting the unique challenges EMS providers face in these regions and our ongoing commitment to addressing them through data-driven insights.

Border regions face unique challenges compared to other areas of the country, including the presence of border infrastructure and enforcement measures. Border infrastructure, such as the increase to a 30-foot border wall in recent years, has been documented to increase the frequency and severity of traumatic brain injuries (Tenorio et al., 2024), which contributes to EMS call volume. EMS systems in border regions face the additional responsibility of providing care for migrants who are sick or injured during their migration journey (Blackburn et al., 2024). These factors create distinct circumstances for EMS clinicians in border regions, who are tasked with providing care to both migrant populations and local communities. Our aim is to examine the impact of migration and the immigration enforcement and infrastructure that accompanies border security on EMS operations in border regions and to explore strategies for developing a more supportive and humane system that facilitates the provision of effective emergency care. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that our EMS teams receive the necessary support to effectively care for migrants and their local communities.

Key Research Findings

Our USA Center has led research to characterize the unique challenges and dynamics of emergency medical response in border regions. Key findings from a multi-state survey and interviews with EMS clinicians reveal important patterns and challenges that shape emergency medical services at the border, including the following:

• 87% of Texas EMS clinicians agreed that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) relies on them for emergency care for migrants
• 42% of Texas EMS clinicians agree that CBP relies on them for routine medical screenings of migrants
• 86% of Arizona EMS clinicians agreed that CBP relies on them for emergency care for migrants
• 88% of Arizona EMS clinicians said they need more federal resources to help them better respond to migrant and resident calls
• Responding to migrants is emotional difficult
• More resources are needed to manage call volume and injury patterns
• Local EMS hold primary responsibility for emergency care and transport for migrants and residents
• Increased border crossing rates reduce or eliminate downtime for personnel
• Increased border crossing rates create mass casualty-like scenarios

Contact Section

Interested in collaborating or learning more? Contact our team to discuss how our research and expertise can support your work in EMS. Please fill out this form if you are interested in learning more or getting involved with our research.

References:

Blackburn, C. C., Lee, M., Rico, M., Hernandez, J., & Knight, L. (2024). ‘It overwhelms the system’: Examining EMS provision in a South Texas border community. BMJ Open, 14(12), e088819. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088819

Tenorio, A., Brandel, M. G., Produturi, G. R., McCann, C. P., Wali, A. R., Bravo, J., Godat, L. N., Doucet, J. J., Costantini, T. W., Santiago-Dieppa, D. R., & Ciacci, J. D. (2023). Characterizing the frequency, morbidity, and types of traumatic brain injuries after the Mexico-San Diego border wall extension: a retrospective cohort review. Journal of Neurosurgery, 139(3), 848–853. https://doi.org/10.3171/2023.1.JNS221859