News and opinion about wildland fire
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Medical issues dominate the reports received by the LLC The Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center distilled this information from the 24-hour reports, 72-hour reports, and facilitated learning analysis documents they have received so far this year, about halfway through the 2013 wildfire season. The word “incidents” refers to the above reports which have been forwarded to the Center.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized6 Comments on Creation of arduous duty EMT Fireline positions 
The National Wildfire Coordination Group’s Risk Management Committee has distributed a memo announcing that new positions have been created — Line Emergency Medical Technicians with the requirement of passing the Pack Test at the arduous level. The three positions are, EMT Fireline, Advanced EMT Fireline, and Paramedic Fireline.
Below are the first two pages of the memo. Details about the qualifications can be found at the NIFC site.
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“Safety Advisory
Date: May 28, 2013
Subject: Creation of Arduous Duty Line Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Positions
Issue: The Risk Management Committee has agreed that the creation of these new positions is in the best interest of the wildland fire community. Federal members have worked with agency Training and Qualifications staff to incorporate them into the Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) as Technical Specialists.
Consideration was given to the need for these positions to maintain an Arduous Fitness level:
1. Line going emergency care providers will carry all the prescribed medical equipment and their line gear to sustain them through a work shift requiring above average endurance and superior conditioning.
2. The very purpose of providing emergency medical care to an employee in the fire environment means they may be called upon to respond on foot at a rapid pace in adverse environmental conditions. The pace of this work is set by the emergency.
3. Once on scene, the EMS resource will provide for patient care. The physical action of transporting the patient will typically be carried out by fireline resources on scene; however the physical demands of maintaining patient care may last for an extended period of time in adverse environmental conditions while carrying fireline gear.
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