25/07/2025
Disaster strikes. Communications are down. Hospitals are overwhelmed.
What role does EMS have in this scenario?
Hint: EMS is much more than just "transport units," and in fact they are essential leaders in disaster response.
The latest NAEMSP position statement makes it crystal clear: EMS isn’t just a piece of the disaster response puzzle—we’re central to the entire picture.
Let's Dive In👇
➜ EMS Must Be Involved in ALL Phases of Disaster Management:
1️⃣ Mitigation
2️⃣ Preparedness
3️⃣ Response
4️⃣ Recovery
Key Roles for EMS:
➜ EMS should lead or co-lead in Unified Command
➜ EMS should integrate with fire, law, and public health at local, regional, and federal levels
➜ EMS should participate in response teams like CERT, MRC, and NDMS
📚 Training & Education:
➠ Hands-on and simulation-based disaster training improves comfort and skill retention
➠ Medical directors should implement competency-based disaster education
➠ EMS physicians should be trained in ICS, NIMS, HAZMAT, and large-scale triage
🧠 Strategic Planning Must Include:
➠ Performance metrics for disaster-specific outcomes (not just response times)
➠ Advance Readiness Contracts (MOUs, mutual aid agreements)
➠ Plans for interstate licensure, liability protection, and surge capacity
💪 Empower EMS to Act:
➠ EMS leaders should have authority to extend scope of practice during events
➠ Online medical control may be unavailable—training and protocols must account for this
➠ Example: Vaccine administration, field death declarations, altered triage
🚑 Federal Deployment Opportunities:
➠ EMS clinicians are critical assets in NDMS teams (DMAT, TCCT, IMT)
➠ Should be ready to support evacuations, hospital load balancing, and multi-state mutual aid
🧘 Don’t Forget Recovery:
➠ EMS must lead in post-incident rehab:
- Equipment replacement, mental health support, system readiness
➠ Avoid outdated stress debriefing
- Support providers with mental health tools
✅ Bottom Line: EMS is no longer just “response.” We are public health leaders, triage experts, and system integrators. This NAEMSP statement isn’t just a policy—it’s a call to action for every EMS system to be disaster-ready and recognized as vital to the nation’s emergency infrastructure.
https://www.handtevy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Role-of-EMS-in-Disaster-Response-A-Position-Statement-and-Resource-Document-of-NAEMSP.pdf
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