L Aw E Nforcement S Pecial O Perations M Edical S Upport

Medical Direction of Wilderness and Other Operational Emergency Medical Services Programs

“…32 Medical directors need a thorough knowledge of law enforcement agency (LEA) procedures for various ballistic, explosive, chemical, and civil disorder threats and the role they will play in a particular incident. 33 The tactical EMS medical director should train as much as possible with LEA officers to further understanding of requirements and to team build. The LEA team members will have similar requirements for medical surveillance, occupational health evaluations, evaluation of injuries, and fitness for duty issues as firefighters.…”

“…The LEA team members will have similar requirements for medical surveillance, occupational health evaluations, evaluation of injuries, and fitness for duty issues as firefighters. 33 The Counter Narcotics and Terrorism Operational Medical Support course has been the standard for TEMS training. 34,35 ANIMAL CARE Wilderness EMS medical directors may have to take care of injuries associated with using SAR animals.…”

Role of Tactical EMS in Support of Public Safety and the Public Health Response to a Hostile Mass Casualty Incident

“…10 The National Association of EMS Physicians further described medical support of law enforcement special operations in a 2001 position paper. 11 In 2004 the American College of Emergency Physicians endorsed Tacti-cal Emergency Medical Support as an essential component of law enforcement teams that "helps maintain a healthy and safer environment for both law enforcement and the public." 12 Despite their increased presence across the nation, tactical EMS programs often remain grassroots initiatives, existing under the auspices of ad hoc memorandums of understanding between law enforcement and a medical entity, with limited funding, and involving nondedicated assets and personnel.…”

“…In 1989 representatives from law enforcement, emergency medicine, and prehospital EMS gathered to develop consensus on the provision of medical support to SWAT teams 8, 9. The National Tactical Officers Association issued a position statement in 1993 supporting Tactical Emergency Medical Support as “an important element of tactical law enforcement operations.”10 The National Association of EMS Physicians further described medical support of law enforcement special operations in a 2001 position paper 11. In 2004 the American College of Emergency Physicians endorsed Tactical Emergency Medical Support as an essential component of law enforcement teams that “helps maintain a healthy and safer environment for both law enforcement and the public.”12…”