EMS Disaster Preparedness
Emergency medical services (EMS) has been involved with disaster response as part of their routine responses and is likely to be the first to respond on a scene for an unexpected incident. EMS providers have acted as Incident Command to initiate response efforts until the rest of the system has been established. Simultaneously, EMS is expected to treat the injured and coordinate transport to definitive medical care as needed. As for predicted incidents, EMS has usually been involved in the planning and preparedness efforts in order to react and respond in the most effective and efficient ways possible.
EMS providers will typically be responsible for responses during a disaster in their local area. Aside from responding with their agency, providers may wish to participate with other associations that help during the time of a disaster. The American Red Cross is a large and well-established organization that provides disaster relief throughout the country. A member of the Red Cross may be asked to serve in another area of the country if a disaster were to strike. More locally, there may be teams that EMS providers can join to provide assistance to their local area. The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) are local teams with members who have a variety of skill sets. Many of the MRC teams are supported by local government funding. Another local team could be the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which is often supported through some form of federal funding via FEMA. Both MRC and CERT members could be asked to use their skills as part of an extended response to a disaster, which would typically not be asked of an EMS provider in the initial response phase.
As with most subjects, funding will always be a challenge. Due to some of the recent epidemics and disaster incidents, some funding has been provided to EMS agencies to help them prepare themselves and subsequently their communities. This funding has come by way of national government agencies, primarily the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services. Most agencies were able to purchase supplies and even vehicles that would aid in the response to disasters. Some supplies were aimed at isolation precautions during disease epidemics. There are funding resources available through the Emergency Preparedness Grant Coordination program and various federal agencies.
EMS also faces challenges when dealing with special populations. These populations can include patients with special needs, including those who are hearing or visually impaired, as these citizens may not be able to take advantage of typical notification systems during a disaster. The homeless population presents difficulties with disaster notification as well, but the same population can be a nidus for the spread of an infection during a disease epidemic. Similar issues could arise with an immigrant population, especially with a potential for a language barrier.
EMS should be providing education about their services at community outreach events. They should also help to provide education and training about topics related to possible epidemics and disasters that could affect their local areas. Certain parts of the country will benefit from education about hurricanes, such as having a box ready at all times that contains items like nonperishable food and water. Other areas will need training on what type of notifications will be provided should there be an approaching tornado and how to shelter from an imminent storm. If there are established shelters in the area for either a hurricane or a tornado, people should know where the shelters are and how to access them. EMS may even be called upon to staff the shelters, providing medical care to the chronically ill or acutely injured. Evacuation plans and routes should be distributed, and people need to be encouraged to follow these plans. EMS agencies would benefit from teaching this information since the emergency routes would then be more accessible for their needs.
During infectious epidemics, EMS can distribute information regarding the disease, how it is spread, and the precautions that people can take in order to reduce the possibility of becoming infected and decreasing the spread of the disease. Again, EMS benefits as there would be less likelihood of an infected patient. If someone is infected, awareness of symptoms by the person might allow EMS to arrive more prepared to treat the patient with appropriate precautions.
