Domestic Preparedness
Overview | Current Projects | Resource Links | Resource Documents
WMD Resources | Model State Plan | NASEMSO Domestic Preparedness Committee (as of 08/07/08)
Overview
The EMS system plays a vital part in the medical aspects of response to a terrorist incident or natural disaster.
State EMS offices are generally charged in the state disaster response plan with the responsibility for coordinating the EMS response. Some of these responsibilities may include:
- Determining the availability of EMS resources,
- Directing ambulances into needed areas, and
- Directing the flow and destination of patients evacuated from the event area.
NASEMSO provides technical support and resources to assist states in meeting the challenges of preparedness.
Current Projects
- Domestic Preparedness and Disaster Response
The EMS system plays a vital part in the medical aspects of response to a disaster, whether local or large-scale. State EMS offices are generally charged in the state disaster response plan with the responsibility for coordinating EMS response. Some of these responsibilities may include determining the availability of EMS resources, directing ambulances into needed areas, and directing the flow and destination of patients evacuated from the event area.
In many instances, while the state plan may identify such a role for the state EMS office, the legal authority to command these resources and the technological infrastructure necessary to assess availability and status of those resources is absent.
NASEMSO encourages states to attend to assuring that the role envisioned for the EMS office is legally and technically supportable, and that adequate resources are brought to bear to assure an optimal state of readiness.
- Domestic Preparedness for Terrorist Attacks and EMS
NASEMSO recognizes that all states and territories under the flag of the United States are at risk to acts of terrorism, and believes that the current medical response system for responding to terrorist actions is fragmented and disorganized throughout the United States. The threat of terrorism is an issue that should be addressed in a coordinated manner by federal, state and local response agencies. There is a need for the entire medical community to be aware, trained, educated and equipped to be able to recognize, respond and safely treat victims of terrorist attacks.
When federal agencies and national organizations provide special funds, training and equipment, or coordinate related planning, they should include state and territorial EMS offices for the purpose of planning, developing and coordinating the awareness, training and equipment needed by the medical community for recognizing, responding, managing and treating victims of terrorist attacks.
Resource Links
- RX Response: getting medicines to patients who need them in a crisis
- SAFETY Act: supportin anti-terrorism by fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002
Resource Documents
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Joint Public Health – Law Enforcement Investigations: Model Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), developed by the Public Health and Law Enforcement Emergency Preparedness Workgroup, convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DHHS, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, USDOJ
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"Protecting Americans for the 21st Century: Imperatives for the Homeland," a white paper by the National Homeland Security Consortium." NASEMSO is a member of the consortium, which has established as its mission "to provide a forum of key national organizations through effective communication, collaboration, and coordination that positively promotes national policies, strategies, practices and guidelines to preserve the public health, safety and security of the nation."
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Domestic Terrorism: Issues of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Preparedness 07-15-2005
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EMS Performance Measures 07-15-2005
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NASEMSO Performance Measures for State EMS Offices
Evidence-based performance measures provide guidelines for state/territorial EMS office use to gauge their progress in meeting function and national requirements of an integrated preparedness and response system. Download here -
Domestic Preparedness Checklist
State/territorial EMS offices now have a checklist to assist them in a governor-declared emergency. This checklist includes identification of recommended federal, state and local plans as well as contact information that each state/territory office should have easily available to them during an incident. A CD with links to the federal plans was available at the NASEMSO 2006 Annual Meeting. Download here - Response Policy
A response policy has been developed by NASEMSO to assist a state/territory EMS director who is involved in a governor-declared emergency. The affected EMS director will have EMS state officials available to assist them either off and/or on site based on identified need. This policy is based on the success of EMAC during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Download here