Joe Suyama, MD
ACEP TEMS Newsletter Editor
Of interest to the TEMS community, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA, in conjunction with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have developed Resource Typing Definitions that help to organize and declare capabilities of eight divisions of emergency responders.
The definitions are part of the National Mutual Aid and Resource Management System which will allow emergency management personnel to identify and request local, state, and federal supplemental resources for use during a disaster. In order to track costs, and request specific types of supplemental resources, the Resource Typing Definitions provide emergency managers a means to determine the compatibility and usefulness of any given resource itemized on the National Mutual Aid and Resource Management System. From the website - http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/FAQ.shtm - definitions for 120 response resources are available.
The eight groups representing key disciplines from federal, state and local levels are Animal Health, Emergency Management, EMS, Fire/HAZMAT, Health and Medical, Law Enforcement, Public Works, and Search and Rescue Resources. Information about the level of capability is classified by "type". Type I represents the highest level of relative capability. SWAT/Tactical Teams are a subcategory of Law Enforcement and the level of capability is described below:
Type I-A dedicated full-time team designated to handle high-risk situations requiring specialized weapons or extraordinary special operations. Team capable of operating in rural and urban environments. Team capability includes dealing with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) events. Teams should be capable of working in a CBRN environment absent of vapors.
Type II-A full-time or part-time team designated to handle high-risk situations requiring specialized weapons or extraordinary special operations. Team capable of operating in either rural or urban environments. Teams should be capable of working in a CBRN environment absent of vapors.
Type III-A team designated to handle high-risk situations requiring specialized weapons with limited resources and capabilities. Teams should be capable of working in a CBRN environment absent of vapors and liquids.
It is vital to note that regardless of the level of capability expected from these three levels of tactical teams, the presence of a tactical medical provider is universal. Personnel description for tactical team Types I-III are noted below: (Adpated from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency)
Type I
2 Long Rifle Teams (2-man Team);
6 Man Entry Team;
1 Team Leader;
8 Containment to include grenadiers;
2 Tactical Medics;
1 Liaison;
1 Tactical Commander;
2 Canine Teams;
1 Electronic Tech;
1 Scribe;
1 Communications Officer;
2 Explosive Breachers;
1 Robot Technician |
Type II
2 Long Rifle Teams (2-man Team);
6 Man Entry Team;
1 Team Leader;
8 Containment to include grenadiers;
1 Tactical Medic;
1 Liaison;
1 Tactical Commander;
Canine Teams recommended;
Electronic Tech recommended;
Explosive Breachers recommended;
Robot Technician recommended |
Type III
2 Long Rifle Teams (2-man Team);
4 Man Entry Team;
1 Team Leader;
8 Containment to include grenadiers;
1 Tactical Medic recommended;
1 Liaison recommended;
1 Tactical Commander |
These national guidelines for tactical team composition incorporate the tactical medical provider as a key resource that increases in capacity as the level of expected capability of the team increases. This should serve as an overall reminder that when a tactical team is called upon to support the response to any emergency, the level of tactical medical support is expected to match the level of tactical support requested.
