Emergency medical professionals, firefighters, law enforcement officers, hospital personnel, and other first responders from across Virginia gathered in Henry County last weekend for the AirLife Virginia Pulse Expo, a three-day educational event focused on advancing patient care and strengthening collaboration among emergency response disciplines.
Hosted by AirLife Virginia in partnership with the Henry County Department of Public Safety, the Pulse Expo provided practical, evidence-based education designed to improve patient outcomes from Basic Life Support (BLS) through advanced critical care.
Throughout the weekend, attendees participated in expert-led lectures and hands-on training covering a variety of critical topics, including pediatric emergencies, burn care, cardiology, vasoactive medications, and other specialized areas of emergency medicine. Participants also earned continuing education hours while gaining knowledge and skills applicable to both field and clinical settings.
“The Pulse Expo demonstrates how Henry County’s public safety facilities have become an important training resource not only for our local first responders, but for emergency response professionals throughout Virginia,” said Henry County Department of Public Safety Director Tim Duffer. “Bringing together EMS providers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and healthcare professionals creates valuable opportunities for collaboration and shared learning that ultimately benefits the patients and communities we serve.”
The event highlighted the county’s growing role as a destination for public safety and healthcare training. The Department of Public Safety’s training facilities provided a venue for professionals from multiple disciplines to learn, train, and exchange ideas while strengthening the partnerships that are critical during emergency situations.
The expo also showcased the contributions of AirLife Virginia, which is based at Blue Ridge Regional Airport in Spencer. AirLife Virginia provides critical air medical transport services across southern Virginia and northern North Carolina and serves as an important partner in the region’s healthcare and emergency response network.
In addition to the educational opportunities offered during the weekend, the event generated economic activity by bringing visitors to the community and further demonstrated the county’s capacity to host professional training events with regional and statewide appeal.
