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Incident Medical Unit Subcommittee

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Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Incident Medical Unit Subcommittee provides leadership in all areas of medical response and services of wildland fire incident Medical Units, with the focus of modernizing and standardizing medical unit processes and capacity to rapidly assess, treat and/or transport sick and injured firefighters and incident support personnel.

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Primary Objectives

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  • Modernize the incident medical organization to match Agency Administrator, incident responder expectations and operational needs. 
  • Develop and maintain wildland fire scope of practice for medical practitioners operating as a part of an incident Medical Unit.  
  • Address issuance of narcotics and providers across state lines, garnering support of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  
  • Establish and regularly update wildland fire incident position standards related MEDL. This includes an incident position description and position requirements for training, experience, physical fitness, and position currency.
  • Establish and regularly update training and performance support materials such as job aids, training courses, and position task books for MEDL.
  • Develop telemedicine standards and practices for incident Medical Units.  

Hot Topics

Featured Links

Medical Unit Toolbox

Medical Incident Report Guidance

Resources for Medical Units

Limited Request for Recognition

Hospitals, Burn Centers, Air Ambulance

This section is for the EMS individuals with the primary responsibility to organize and manage an effective and efficient medical unit for a wildland fire or all-risk incident. Whether you're a medical unit leader (MEDL), incident medical specialist manager (IMSM), or involved with the fire medic program, this site will help you develop the medical unit quickly and also serve as a resource for you.

The forms and templates provided here will help you get started quickly and accurately. It is your responsibility to verify the information on these forms and websites provided. The procedures, information, and forms may change periodically before it can be posted.

Note Many states require certified/licensed EMS personnel to carry on their person their current EMS credentials at all times. It is recommended that all wildland/all-risk EMS resources do so as well.

Hospital Resources

Burn Center

Air Ambulance

 

 

 

Chair: Alan Sinclair

NWCG Coordinator: Katy O'Hara

Parent Committee: Emergency Medical Committee

Meeting Schedule: TBD

Page Last Modified or Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Water Scooper Operations Unit

The NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating water scooping aircraft on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, and any local, state, or geographic/regional water scooping plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Updated NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee

The Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee has updated the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505. PMS 505 establishes standards for aerial supervision operations for national interagency wildland fire operations. 

References:

NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505

New Job Aids Available: Packing Lists for Wildland Fire Fireline Personnel and Support Staff, J-101 and J-102

Date: December 3, 2024
Contact: NWCG TRAINING

Two new job aids are now available: Packing List for Wildland Fire Fireline Personnel, J-101 and Packing List for Wildland Fire Support Personnel, J-102, should serve as a baseline for items needed on a wildland fire assignment. These lists will help personnel prepare for a 14 to 21-day assignment on the fireline or in a support role.

References:

Job Aid Catalog

NWCG Packing List for Wildland Fire Fireline Personnel, J-101

NWCG Packing List for Wildland Fire Support Staff, J-102

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 24-001 Stihl Chainsaw Toolless Fuel Cap Spill Prevention

Date: November 14, 2024
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 24-001 Stihl Chainsaw Toolless Fuel Cap Spill Prevention. Misaligned toolless fuel caps on Stihl chainsaws have led to recurring fuel spillage, fuel ignition, and burn injuries during wildland fire management operations.

This Safety Warning is intended to highlight the details and recommended procedures for the installation of a Stihl chainsaw toolless fuel cap, as well as how to identify and correct a misaligned, damaged, or broken fuel cap to help prevent fuel spillage.

References:

NWCG Safety Warning: 24-001 Stihl Chainsaw Toolless Fuel Cap Spill Prevention

Advertencia de equipos 24-001: Prevención de derrames de la tapa de combustible sin herramientas de la motosierra Stihl

NWCG Alerts