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Emergency Medical Technician – Fireline

Position Description

Introduction

The EMTF provides emergency medical services (EMS) on an active fireline, division or other physically challenging assignment.  This position may also assist at the medical unit and/or other incident location as requested by the Incident Commander or representative.

Duties

  • Performs non-invasive lifesaving procedures focused on the initial management of injured and sick person. 
  • EMTFs are not independent practitioners and therefore must be supervised by a physician medical director.  Although many of the procedures that an EMTF is allowed to perform do not require real-time oversight by the supervising medical director, the EMTF makes destination decisions in collaboration with medical oversight.
  • While all EMTFs receive essentially the same training, the specific procedures that each individual EMTF is authorized to perform vary depending on the EMTF’s scope of practice.  An EMTF’s scope of practice contains only those procedures for which he or she is educated, certified (by passing an exam), credentialed (medical director grants “permission” to practice), and licensed by a state to perform.  Therefore, the scope of practice of an EMTF will vary by individual.
  • EMTFs will be required to work on the fireline or other remote areas of an incident.  The EMTF would be expected to participate in and/or lead the evacuation of a sick or injured person from this environment.  The EMTF would also be expected to perform these lifesaving skills with the equipment available to them on the fireline, which is significantly less than those EMT in the medical unit or typical urban EMS system.  The EMTF may be the only medical provider on scene for an extended period of time in less than ideal conditions.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

The following is a list of the typical skills than EMTF can perform:

  • Airway and Breathing
    • Insertion of airway adjuncts intended to go into the oropharynx or nasopharynx.
    • Use of positive pressure ventilation devices such as manually triggered ventilators and automatic transport ventilators.
  • Pharmacological Interventions
    • Assist patients in taking their own prescribed medications.
    • Provide lifesaving medications with an auto injector.
    • Administration of the following over-the-counter medications with appropriate medical oversight including the following:
      • Oral glucose for suspected hypoglycemia.
      • Aspirin for chest pain of suspected ischemic origin.
  • Use of an automated external defibrillator.
  • Trauma Care:
    • Stabilizing suspected spinal injuries and extremity fractures.
    • Controlling bleeding.
    • Evacuation of a sick or injured patient using purpose made and improvised litters.
    • Appropriate triage of sick or injured patients in order to assist with the formulation of an evacuation plan.
    • Application and inflation of the pneumatic anti-shock garment (PASG) for fracture stabilization.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • Current EMT license (must be issued by the EMTs home-state EMS licensing authority)
  • Introduction to ICS (I-100)
  • Firefighter Training (S-130)
  • Introduction to Wildland Fire (S-190)
  • NIMS:  An Introduction (IS-700)
  • Annual Fireline Safety Refresher (RT-130)
  • Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service (L-180)
  • An arduous physical fitness level has been established for this position

Other Training Supporting Development of Knowledge and Skills

  • Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290)
  • Basic Air Operations (S-270)
  • Helicopter Crewmember (S-271)
  • Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician

NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Risk Management Committee Releases Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires

Date: November 7, 2024
Contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) has released Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires. As wildland fire respirators are available through several established vendors, wildland fire personnel need to understand regulations and limitations of respirator use in the workplace.

Safety Bulletin 24-001 outlines the following topics regarding respirator use for wildland fires:

  • Requirements for Respirator Use
  • Voluntary Respirator Use
  • Current Respirator Options
  • Unknown Risks of Respirator Use

This bulletin also provides mitigation recommendations to help reduce smoke exposure for wildland firefighting efforts.

References:

NWCG Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires

NWCG Smoke Management Guide for Prescribed Fire, PMS 420-3

VIDEO: Protecting Wildfire Personnel from Smoke - How Incident Management Teams Address Smokes Risks

VIDEO: Smoke, Knowing the Risks

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL)

Date: October 16, 2024
Contact: Incident Medical Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Medical Unit Leader, PMS 350-39 and NWCG Position Task Book for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL), PMS 311-39 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for MEDL includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book, were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Medical Unit Leader Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Medical Unit Leader, PMS 350-39

NWCG Position Task Book for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL), PMS 311-39

The Wildland Fire Learning Portal is Now Available

Date: October 9, 2024
Contact: Wildland Fire Learning Portal

The Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP) is back online following a migration to a new learning management system (LMS) application. The WFLP team is actively addressing any issues that may arise as a result of the update, and appreciates your patience as the team works to enhance your experience. NWCG will share information from the WFLP as it is available.

Should you have any issues with accessing or using the WFLP, please use the link below to submit a ticket through the Help Center.

References:

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Wildland Fire Learning Portal Help Center

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases New Equipment Bulletins

Date: September 27, 2024
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released three new Equipment Bulletins:

  • ETC-EB-24-003 Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in fuel containers.
  • ETC-EB-24-004 Two-compartment fuel and oil container (Dolmar) unavailable in the United States (US) and reminders for upkeep of current inventories.
  • ETC-EB-24-005 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Inspection, Care, and Maintenance.

These bulletins remind field going personnel of important issues related to equipment for wildland firefighting efforts.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC-EB-24-003 Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in fuel containers

ETC-EB-24-004 Two-compartment fuel and oil container (Dolmar) unavailable in the United States (US) and reminders for upkeep of current inventories

ETC-EB-24-005 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Inspection, Care, and Maintenance