NCJ Number
191017
Date Published
1997
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This document provides competencies for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel responding to hazardous materials incidents.
Abstract
EMS personnel at EMS/HM Level I are called on to perform patient care activities in the cold zone at a hazardous materials incident. EMS/HM Level I responders shall provide care only to those individuals who no longer pose a significant risk of secondary contamination. They should be able to analyze a hazardous materials emergency to determine what risks are present to the provider and the patient by determining the hazards present and assess the patient to determine risk of secondary contamination. They should then plan a response to provide appropriate emergency care, implement the planned response, and terminate the incident. Personnel at EMS/HM Level II will perform patient care activities in the warm zone at hazardous materials incidents. They might be required to provide care to those individuals who still pose a significant risk of secondary contamination. In addition, they shall be able to coordinate EMS activities at a hazardous materials incident and provide medical support for hazardous materials response personnel. They should analyze a hazardous materials incident to determine the magnitude of the problem by determining the hazards present and assessing the patient to determine patient care needs and the risk of secondary contamination. They should plan a response to provide the appropriate level of emergency medical care to persons involved in the incidents and provide medical support to response personnel. They should also implement the planned response by performing the necessary preparations and treatment for receiving the patient, and coordinating and managing the EMS component of the hazardous materials incident. References, appendices, and index