LTC 419-2025 Commitment to Excellence Fire Department Advances Prehospital CareDocusign Envelope ID: EB0667E4-BFEE-430C-9922-0429ABBBC6DB
LETTER TO COMMISSION
MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC #419-2025
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
Eric Carpenter, City Manager��
September 30, 2025
SUBJECT: Commitment to Excellence: Fire Department Advances Prehospital Care
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (L TC) is to inform you that effective October 1, 2025,
the Miami Beach Fire Department will formally implement the updated 2025 EMS Protocols.
These updated protocols reflect our unwavering commitment to providing cutting-edge,
evidence-based prehospital emergency care to the residents, visitors, and guests of our
community.
A landmark component of these new protocols is the addition of prehospital antibiotic
administration for patients suspected of experiencing sepsis. The Miami Beach Fire Department
will be the first agency in Miami-Dade County to equip all frontline units with this potentially
lifesaving capability.
Sepsis is a medical emergency with a mortality rate exceeding that of myocardial infarction,
stroke, and trauma. National and international studies confirm that every hour of delay in
antibiotic administration increases hospital mortality by 4-8%, especially in patients with septic
shock. By initiating therapy in the prehospital environment, EMS providers can significantly
shorten the time to treatment, thereby improving survival and patient outcomes.
Several studies demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach:
• A Florida EMS study showed prehospital antibiotics reduced mortality from 15.8% to 6.8%
among septic shock patients.
•Another analysis found in-hospital mortality dropped by nearly 70% in patients receiving
antibiotics before hospital arrival.
These findings affirm that early recognition and treatment of sepsis in the field saves lives. By
adopting this practice, MBFD is not only aligning with the latest evidence but also setting the
standard for emergency medical services in our region.
This initiative will translate into measurable improvements in sepsis outcomes and further
reinforce Miami Beach's reputation as a leader in public safety and service delivery.
Shoul�/ave any questions, please contact Fire Chief Digna Abella.
EC/DA�