Paramedic research, 5 May 2026

3 new paramedic and prehospital papers from the 5 May 2026 scan.

Paramedics accurate withholding CPR in traumatic arrest

Prehospital Emergency Care · Cohort · Supports current practice

Retrospective Ontario review testing how paramedics decide to withhold CPR in traumatic cardiac arrest — most no-CPR decisions were based on signs clearly incompatible with life, and post-mortem findings supported paramedic assessment in the large majority of cases.
Each advanced prehospital intervention adds scene time

Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine · Cohort · Context only

Retrospective physician-led HEMS trauma study examining whether more advanced interventions are stretching scene times — each additional intervention increased scene time by 41%, although overall scene times stayed similar over two decades because of changing case mix.
Call to abandon routine spinal immobilisation

Prehospital Emergency Care · Guideline / statement · Context only

Commentary challenging continued routine spinal immobilisation in suspected spinal injury — the authors argue decades of evidence now consistently show harm without benefit, and that paramedic scope should evolve to reflect current evidence.