NWCG RMC
Incident Emergency Medical
Subcommittee
Update
2011
IEMS Mission
The mission of the Incident
Emergency Medical Subcommittee
(IEMS) is to establish a
methodology that meets the
emergency medical and
occupational health care needs of
managed incidents with the
integration of local, state, tribal, and
federal systems.
IEMTG Tactical Plan
Subcommittees
Accomplishments
Timeline
Futuring
Overview
Background
• Unique healthcare needs for wildland fire
operations
• Lack of clearly defined uniform and
consistent standards and protocols for
medical personnel to follow on incidents
• EMSG Chartered 2001 – Sunset 2007
• National Association of State Emergency
Medical Services Officials Letter 11/2/07
• IEMS chartered - June 2008
NASEMSO Letter
• Recognized the need for quality EMS for
firefighters
• Legislative Authority and Responsibility
• Failure to receive proper state level
authorization as EMS personnel or
ambulance services may be in violation
of state statutes, making individuals and
organizations both civilly and criminally
liable
NASEMSO
• Pledged to work with the NWCG and
NIFC to identify and implement a
workable resolution and provide
appropriate and accountable out ofhospital medical care and safety to the
firefighters and others responding to
incidents across the United Stated
Most Common Misconceptions
• The Good Samaritan Law will protect
EMS activities on wildland fires
• Wildland fire is on “Federal” land so
State Law does not apply
• National Registry Card qualifies EMS
Personnel to Function as EMS on
Wildland Fire Incidents
Incident Emergency Medical Subcommittee
Introduced June 2008
IEMS
Jan Peterson, Chair
ID BLM Safety Manager
Dr. Jim Upchurch, Advisor
Mary Jo Lommen, R-1
USFS IMS Program Manager
Debbie Anderson, R-6
USFS IMS Program Manager
Gene Madden, NIMO Safety
USFS-WO
Dean Ross, WO Chief
NPS Branch of ER Services
Tawni Taylor, Investigator
ID EMS
 Bonnie Taylor, EMS Director
Grand Teton NPS
 Jim DeTienne, Supervisor EMS/
Trauma Systems, MT EMS
 Kyle Thornton, Bureau Chief
NM EMS
 Mike Brown, Fire Chief
North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection
District
 Jon Thomas, Executive Secretary
AK BLM Safety Manager
 Michelle Moore, Fire Management
Specialist – DOI/BIA
 Larry Sutton, RMC Liaison
Fire Operations Risk Management
Officer - USFS – WO
IEMS Interagency Tactical Plan
http://www.nwcg.gov/branches/pre/rmc/iems/index.html
Tactical Plan Components
• Scope of Practice
• Jim De Tienne
• Kyle Thornton
• Tawni Taylor
• Data and Records Management
• Gene Madden
• Jim Powell
• EMS Equipment & Supplies
• Jon Thomas
• Mary Jo Lommen
Tactical Plan Continued
• Review of Policy, Guidelines,
Directives
– BLM & USFS Smokejumpers
– NPS Directives & Field Manuals
– R1 & R6 IMS Programs
– R5 Cal Fire Medical Program
– DHS/FEMA
Tactical Plan Continued
• Training & Credentialing
– Jan Peterson
– Gene Madden
• Incident Medical Unit Operations and
Evaluation Criteria
– Jan Peterson
– Jon Thomas
• Physician Advisory System
– Dr. Upchurch
– Mary Jo Lommen
Tactical Plan Continued
• Emergency Equipment Rental
Agreement Model EMS Language
– Jon Thomas
– Mary Jo Lommen
• Communications
– Jan Peterson
– Gene Madden
Tactical Plan Continued
• Communications Continued
– Annual IEMS Report
– Web Page
– Presentations
• Conferences
– -International Association of Wildland
Firefighters – Safety Summit
• Meetings
Tactical Plan Continued
• Communications continued
– Contacting Federal EMS Programs
– Foster NWCG Committee and
Subcommittee Relationships
– Bulletins: Intro Letter, Alerts
IEMS Products
• Interim NWCG Minimum Standards
for Medical Units Managed By
NWCG Member Agencies
• Infectious Diseases Guidelines
For Wildland Fire Incidents
Management Teams
• Reviewed: Standards for Burn Injuries
• Interim NWCG Minimum Standards
for Incident Emergency Medical
Services
IEMS Products
• IRPG Medical Section rewrite
• Evaluated the 500 and 100 Person First
Aid Kits
• Developing Guidelines for
Occupational Health Care for
Wildland Fires
Futuring
•
•
•
•
•
•
Identify SMEs
Maintain IEMS Web Page
Build Partnership Bank
Stay on top of Communications
Create National MEDL Association
Form Medical Directors/Advisors in
each State and Region
Futuring (continued)
• Outreach and Training
• Standardize the Management of
Medical Units
• Assist with Standards for Contracting
• Incorporate Industry Standards for
EMS Terminology and Position Titles
• Data Management / ISUITE
Summary
and
Questions