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RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)

RT-130 Decorative banner. Group of photos depicting wildland firefighters performing various duties.

Emergency Medical Short-Haul

An introduction to a new Forest Service Program Supporting Employees.
Category: Aviation
Core Component(s):
Local Topics, Incident Reviews and Lessons Learned
Estimated Delivery Time: 1 hour
Video Length: Video 1: 13:35; Video 2: 8:56

Part 1

Part 2

 

Intent

Review the use and procedures of Emergency Medical Short-Haul.

            Objective

            Describe how to medivac a patient using Emergency Medical Short-Haul.

            Develop and provide rationale for a medivac plan.

Facilitator Preparation

  • Review the module and videos
  • Write a unique set of Parameters (see list below) for each group.

Facilitating the Discussion

  • Watch the video
  • Facilitate a discussion using the activity and discussion questions.

Conduct Activity

  • Divide the class into small groups and distribute parameters to each group.
  • Advise participants that each group will:
    • Create a unique scenario using the provided parameters.
    • Develop a medivac response plan.
    • Provide a rationale for the plan.
    • *Note: Use your IRPGs. Other extraction techniques besides short-haul can be used depending on patient stability and the scenario.
  • Play the activity Medevac Exercise video
  • Have the groups present their proposed plans.

Activity Parameters

  • Nature of Injury/Illness
  • Location (on Google Earth map)
  • Medical resources on scene
  • Time of day
  • Fire behavior/stage
  • Weather

Resources

WFSTAR guides are currently being updated and will be added to each module page as they are completed.  In the interim, please use the following guide for this module.  This guide is not completely Section 508 compliant.  If you need an accessible version, please contact Mathew J. Schindel at mschindel@blm.gov

The Forest Service is standing up programs to increase the number of emergency medical short-haul capabilities

Additional Video Information

  • These videos are also available as a download (zip file, size 325MB) with .srt file for closed captioning (you may need to right click and Save As). For information on how to add closed captioning to a video, see this how to page.
  • Note: For Chrome and Firefox, right click the word download and select Save Link As; For IE, right click and select Save Target As.

Last Modified / Reviewed:

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NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Professional Reading Program

Date: February 18, 2025
Contact: Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program is announcing the 2025 Professional Reading list! The goal of the annual reading list is to promote the reading and discussion of the books throughout the year.

The five books chosen for this year are: Surf When You Can by Brett Crozier, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, Elephant Company by Vicki Constantine Croke, Simply Managing by Henry Mintzberg, and Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Metcalf.

References:

Professional Reading Program

Task Group Volunteers Needed to Update the Property Loss or Damage Report, OF 289

Date: February 5, 2025
Contact: Julie Bennett, Incident Business Committee Chair

The Incident Business Committee (IBC) is requesting volunteers for a new task group to revise the 1981 version of the Property Loss or Damage Report, OF 289 and create an incident replacement job aid. The volunteers may be recruited from within or outside the Geographic Area Incident Business Committees.

References:

IBC Memorandum 25-02

IBC Correspondence

2025 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

Date: February 4, 2025
Contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee

The NWCG Incident and Position Standards Committee has updated the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1. 

These updates address changes to incident position names and requirements for qualification, training, and experience. Updates related to the implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) are also included.  

The NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308 has also been updated to reflect the recent changes.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308

NWCG Memo: 2025-01 January 2025 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Positions Qualifications, PMS 310-1

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters

Date: January 15, 2025
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters. Non-specification fire shelters claiming to meet Forest Service (FS) fire shelter specification 5100-606 were first found in February of 2023. As of September 2024, non-specification shelters are again being advertised and sold on the open market.

This Safety Warning outlines details and recommended procedures to purchase FS specification shelters made with materials and components that meet performance criteria and toxicity testing requirements outlined in FS Specification 5100-606. 

For additional information on identifying non-specification shelters, please view ETC Safety Warning 23-01.

References:

ETC Safety Warning 25-001: Non-specification fire shelters

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee

ETC Safety Warning 23-01