Wildland Fire EMS 2006
Gene Madden
Division Safety Officer, Florida Division of Forestry
Chair, NWCG Safety & Health Working Team
Member, NWCG EMS Group
Wildland Fire EMS 2006

National Wildfire Coordinating Group





Safety & Health Working Team Changes
Emergency Medical Support Group Changes
Medical Unit Protocols Established
Vitamins & Mineral Supplements
New Developments



Fireline EMT
AEDs in Cache
Review of EMS Equipment/Supplies in Fire Cache
National Wildfire
Coordinating Group
Safety & Health Working Team 2006
Safety & Health Working Team 2006





Gene Madden (FL),
Chair, SE States
Michelle Ryerson,
Vice Chair, BLM
John Gould, BIA
Rod Blum, USF&WS
Bob Ashworth (NV),
Western States






Al King, NPS
Ron Hanks, USFS
Vacant, NE States
Tim Lynch, MTDC
Karin Nichols,
Executive Secretary
Mike Long, NWCG
Liaison
National Wildfire
Coordinating Group
Emergency Medical Support Group
Changes
Wildland Fire EMS 2005
NWCG Safety & Health Working Team
Emergency Medical Services Group


Established Emergency Medical Support Group (EMSG)
Feb. 2003 after Reno Wildfire EMS Summit (Jan. ’03)
Original Membership:








Gene Madden, Chair, SE Rep-NASF/SHWT (FL)
Jeff Hatch, USDA/USFS Rep (WY)
Sherrie Collins, DOI/NPS Rep (AZ)
Kim Christensen, DOI/BLM Rep (ID)
Jeff Scussel, USDA/USFS Rep (MT)
Dia Gainor, NASEMSD Rep (ID)
Fergus Laughridge, NASEMSD Rep (NV)
Bobby Golden, Executive Secretary, USDA/USFS (MT)
Wildland Fire EMS 2006

EMS Group









Kim Christensen, Chair, DOI/BLM Rep (ID)
Gene Madden, SE Rep-NASF/SHWT (FL)
Jeff Hatch, USDA/USFS Rep (WY)
Don Pontbriand, DOI/NPS Rep (WO)
Jeff Scussel, USDA/USFS Rep (MT)
Dia Gainor, NASEMSD Rep (ID)
Fergus Laughridge, NASEMSD Rep (NV)
Dr. David Cone, NAEMSP Rep
Mary Jo Lommen, Executive Secretary, USDA/USFS
(MT)
NWCG Medical Unit
Operating Standards for
Integration with State EMS
Approved January 2005
by
NWCG Parent Group
NWCG Medical Unit Operating
Standards for Integration with State EMS

On Web@:

www.nwcg.gov/teams/shwt/emsg/resources.htm
Limited Request for
Recognition Form*
* There is a very similar but different
form for deployment in Montana
LIMITED REQUEST FOR RECOGNITION
(Print or type all information. Use additional forms as necessary.
MEDLs are responsible for reporting arriving AND demobing resources
within 24 hours to the designated state EMS office.
See http://nasemsd.org/member list.html for contact information)
Authorization for recognition is requested for the following emergency medical
personnel assigned to the _______________________________incident. The identified
personnel will provide emergency medical and health care services for incident personnel. It is
anticipated that they may be providing these services for up to 21 days from the date of
this notification.
______________________________
__________
______ ______
Full name
Cert/Lic. Level
State
NREMT#
______________________________
__________
_____
______
Full name
Cert/Lic. Level
State
NREMT#
The above individual(s) will be assigned starting on ________________________________
The location of the incident is: ________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
The primary wildfire jurisdictional authority is: ____________________________________
I attest that I have physically examined the certifications/licenses of the above individuals.
____________________________________ (_______)_____________________
Medical Unit Leader-Print
Telephone Number
(_______)___________________
Fax Number
____________________________________ _________
Medical Unit Leader-Signature
Date
Completing the Request for Recognition Form
The purpose of the “Request for Recognition” form is to advise the state EMS office (where your
incident is) that you have established a medical unit within their jurisdiction, and you are identifying outof-jurisdiction (the state’s) EMS personnel who are going to be rendering care for a limited period of time.
This form does not provide certification/licensure reciprocity. It only notifies authorities of the
presence of EMS resources.
A new form must be completed for each resource as they move from incident to incident within that
state or if they travel to another state.
Remember too, that advanced life support (ALS) care rendered requires in-jurisdiction Medical
Direction. The state EMS Office may be able to help you with this.
To locate the State EMS office, simply click on the NWCG Emergency Medical Support Group website
(www.nwcg.gov/teams/shwt/emsg/index.htm) and go to the National Association of State EMS Directors
(NASEMSD) website link. The NASEMSD web address is: www.nasemsd.com
Click on the state where your incident is located. You will go immediately to the appropriate state contact
number.
The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians also has a website that will provide you with the
correct state EMS contact information. The NREMT web address is: www.nremt.com
Both websites may offer additional important and helpful information to you about the area EMS facilities
and services in completing the Medical Unit Plan (ICS 206). Additional links are expected to be added.
REMEMBER TO VERIFIY ALL INFORMATION TAKEN FROM WEBSITES e.g. telephone numbers, services,
etc.
It cannot be overly stressed that it is the responsibility of the Medical Unit Leader (or the Incident
Medical Specialist Manager or Firemedic manager, if so designated) to complete the Request for
Recognition form.
Remember, there are a multitude of statutory and administrative regulations from state to state. You may be
required to provide additional information and proof of certification/licensure to the State EMS Office. Contact
them for specific information and assistance.
Vitamins & Mineral Supplements

SHWT asked by IBPWT


>>SHWT>>EMSG>>Drs. Cone, Sharkey and Cox
researched data.
Accepted by EMSG and SHWT

Forwarded to IBPWT Feb 2, 2005
“The assumption is
firefighters will receive
all the proper vitamins and minerals
by eating the meals,
food and liquids they require to do their job safely
on the incident.” Madden, Feb 2, 2005 SHWT Memo to
IPBWT
“In examining the reputable literature and studies,
no definitive evidence can be located at this time
that a daily multi-vitamin
and mineral supplementation provided is effective for
firefighter health or increasing their performance.
However, certain cases and situations may arise
on specific incidents (e.g. all risk, medical direction, etc)
that a limited number/type/kind of vitamins may be permitted.
Consequently, in most common situations,
without outstanding warrant, the use of vitamins
should be a personal preference.” Madden, Feb. 2, 2005 SHWT memo to IPBWT
Vitamin & Mineral Supplements

Policy of NWCG Parent Group
“Based upon their review of ongoing nutritional
work and that of the scientific community, it was
concluded that vitamin and mineral supplements
are not recommended to prevent or reduce the
risk of disease. Such supplements are not a
substitute for a balanced and nutritious diet.”
Kirk Rowdabaugh, NWCG Chair 3/22/06
Is Emergen-C Acceptable?
Yes, as an electrolyte
replacement fluid. The added
vitamins and minerals are
secondary in nature
Fireline EMTs

What are they?

What’s happening?

What should my IMT do when they need an
EMT up on the fireline?
Fireline EMT Proposals

NWCG/SHWT FEMT






Current EMT certification
Moderate fitness level
FF2
Would define a national
level fireline EMT(310-1)
To IOSWT for approval
November 2005
IOSWT denied request
November 2005

FIRESCOPE FEMT






Current EMT certification
Arduous fitness level
FF1
Sets the guidelines for a
CA fireline EMT
Approved by
FIRESCOPE
Accepted SHWT position
AEDs


SHWT recommended (Sept. ‘05) to FEWT the inclusion
of sufficient bi-phasic AEDs including supplemental 02
and companion airway kits into fire cache system. It was
suggested that initially the number of AEDs should be
sufficient for all Type I & Type II IMT/MEDLs in a phase
in process.
Parent Group has requested additional guidance as to
the “level of care.”

When should an AED be present?




IA?
EA?
Type 2?
Type 1?
Review of EMS Equipment/Supplies
in Fire Cache

SHWT members offered to FEWT to serve as
SMEs to assist in the review of FA kit
equipment and supplies.


Dia Gainor, ID EMS Director
Scott McKinney, MEDL/EMTP, Sacramento FD
Other Wildland Fire EMS Issues

Continual updates to EMSG website




http://www.nwcg.gov/teams/shwt/emsg/index.htm
http://www.nwcg.gov/teams/shwt/emsg/resources.htm
Medical protocols & the effect from the National
Scope of Practice Model
Continued development of the Standard Medical
Unit Protocol modeled from:



Florida Regional Common EMS Protocols (BLS only)
IMS Protocols
National Park service (Chapter 51) Emergency Medical
protocols
What Can the LOGS Do?




Order a MEDL/IMSM — when you need it
Good ordering data — printed/type (“portion control” quantities)
with call back #’s & substitution info
Copy the EMSG with a copy of your incident medical treatments
& send me the email address of your MEDLs
Discourage:
 Preordering of personnel and supplies
 Orders not based upon current and expected conditions
 Over ordering and inappropriate ordering—especially from the
Cache
 Failure to return FA kits back to fire cache in a timely manner
 Medical Unit problems
 Personnel? Treatment? Ordering?

Contact Kim Christensen or me
What Can the Buying Teams Do?


Do everything you can to satisfy the order
from the MEDL. Call the MEDL/IMSM back
when you are substituting or have questions
Don’t make medical decisions


It’s “OK” to have oxygen in the fire camp medical
unit
Let us (EMSG/SHWT) know what kind of
problems you encounter to help mitigate
them
Questions?
Thank You!