Position Specific Requirements

Medical Specialist

 

The Medical Specialist is responsible for performing the medical function of the task

force incident operation. The Medical Specialist reports directly to the Medical Team

Manager.

 

The Medical Specialist is responsible for:

 

•The general health considerations of and delivery of medical care to all task force

personnel, victims, and search dogs, while under the supervision of the Medical Team

manger, during disaster events.

•Implementing the medical action plans specified by the Medical Team Manger.

•Accountability, maintenance, and minor repairs for all issued equipment.

•Performing additional tasks or duties as assigned during a mission.

Position Requirements and Criteria

Individuals who meet the following requirements and criteria will be eligible to become

Medical Specialists in the FEMA US&R Response System. The intent of these

requirements is to select personnel fully capable of providing medical care required by

the task force in the urban disaster environment.

 

Required Training

 

The Medical Specialist shall:

1. Meet all General Training requirements

2. Be currently certified/licensed as a medical provider (EMT-Paramedic, Physician

Assistant, Registered Nurse-Practitioner or Registered Nurse) and meet all the

requirements in the AHJ and is trained in BTLS, ACLS, and PALS regimens (or

equivalent).

3. Complete the FEMA/US&R Medical Team Training course.

4. Complete the FEMA/US&R WMD Considerations for The Medical Team.

5. Complete the GPS Awareness course

6. Complete the Technical Rescue Skill Sets as identified in Appendix A

 

Technical Rescue Skill Sets

 

Minimum skill set recommendations for Task Force Personnel who enter the hazard

zone, i.e. forward deployment:

 General Requirements of NFPA 1670

  • Rope Rescue Awareness per NFPA 1670*
  • Confined Space Rescue Awareness per NFPA 1670
  • Structural Collapse Awareness, NFPA 1670
  • Duties of the Entrant per 29 CFR 1910.146

 

* Additional Required Rope Rescue skills;

o Safety considerations during rope rescue operations

o Characteristics of life safety rope and webbing

o Application of rope rescue hardware specific to a lowering operation

o Application of rope rescue hardware and software specific to a belay line

o Assemble and apply a Class III harness

o Assemble and apply a “Hasty Harness”

o Tie a Simple Figure eight knot

o Tie a Figure Eight follow-through knot

o Tie an overhand follow-through with webbing

o Attach a prusik loop to a rope

o Be familiar with anchor systems

o Be familiar with raising and lowering systems

o Proficiency at attaching yourself to, and participating in a raising or

lowering system

o Proficiency at descending and ascending a fixed line, low angle

 
 
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