Intent

Wildland firefighters perform dangerous work in remote locations. At a minimum, all are trained in basic first aid. Regardless of level of medical training, all firefighters must be equipped to respond to a medical emergency. Review the Emergency Medical Care Guidelines and other useful references in the Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, in the Emergency Medical Care section (red) to better prepare yourself for a potential medical incident.

Facilitator Preparation

• Review the video and module tools.
• Reference the Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461. Provide copies of the IRPG for students to utilize and answer questions.
• Consider additional activities and discussion questions pertinent to the location and agency.

Facilitating the Discussion

• Share the intent of the module with the class.
• Show the video.
• Facilitate a small or large group discussion using discussion questions and the IRPG.

Discussion Questions

1. Locate and review the Emergency Medical Care Guidelines in the IRPG. Identify one take-away message from each section (Legality, Blood-Borne Pathogens, Treatment Principles, and Medical Response Procedures).
2. Locate and review additional IRPG references that may be applicable during a medical incident. Identify how the following resources in the Emergency Medical Care section may be used:
   1. Patient Assessment, Specific Treatments, CPR, and Medical Incident Report (MIR)
   2. Refer to 6 Minutes for Safety’s Serious Injuries Procedures to support discussion.
3. How does your module deal with emergency medical situations? 
   1. Discuss how this plan may differ during project work, wildfire response, or physical training?
   2. What critical roles may be needed during an incident within an incident (medical incident commander, primary medical personnel, scribe, radio communicator, etc.)?
   3. What transport options are available in your area (i.e., agency vehicle, ground ambulance, agency ship, hoist ship, short-haul extraction, etc.)?
   4. Refer to related WFSTAR modules (Incident within an Incident, Preparing for Wildfire Medevac, and Short-Haul Medevac Exercise) to support discussion.
4. Review how your module communicates using handheld and mobile radios. 
   1. What specific channels should be used during a medical incident (dispatch, ICP command, air-to-ground, etc.)?
   2. Reference the Medical Plan (ICS 206 WF) and discuss how to communicate critical medical information.
5. What medical gear do you have on your module? 
   1. Where is it located? 
   2. How does your crew practice use of medical equipment throughout the fire season?
   3. How does your module ensure maintenance of medical equipment and medications (AED batteries, oxygen tanks, expiration dates for medications, etc.)?

Resources

• Publication: Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461
• Publication: NWCG Standards for Helicopter Operations, PMS 510
• Document: 6 Minutes for Safety – Serious Injury Procedures
• Document: Medical Plan (ICS 206 WF)
• Website: RT-130, WFSTAR – Incident within an Incident
• Website: RT-130, WFSTAR – Preparing for Wildfire Medevac
• Website: RT-130, WFSTAR – Short Haul Medevac Exercise
• Website: Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center – Medical Emergencies search by incident type.

Additional Video Information

This video is also available as a download. (Size 1.3 GB)
Download the .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.

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