The United States is committed to the need for all-hazard preparedness in an unprecedented manner. The acts of terrorism that caused the loss of several thousand innocent lives on September 11, 2001 aroused the country to the possibility and consequences of events that were previously inconceivable. Previous acts of terrorism such as the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, the Madrid train bombing, the bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and the release of sarin gas in the Tokyo subway highlighted further examples of the global spread of terrorism.

In addition to terrorist events, numerous examples of natural disasters and other events have occurred that caused significant morbidity and mortality. The possibility of future terrorist incidents and the likelihood of natural disasters occurring in the United States illustrates the need for emergency medical services (EMS) to prepare and manage casualties resulting from man-made or natural disasters. Emergency medical service providers must be able to work under and be familiar with the incident command system and be able to function under a unified structure in order to maximize resources and provide the best possible care and treatment for the most people during a disaster or mass-casualty event.

Content level: Intermediate

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this activity, the participant should be able to:
• describe the National Perspective of ICS for EMS, which includes the Federal Response Plan, Department of Homeland Security, Directive 5, and the incident management concept.
• describe the State Perspective of ICS for EMS and explain the role of the State Office of Emergency Management and how the state system activates the federal system and obtains federal funding.
• explain the Local Perspective of ICS for EMS by reviewing the basic blocks of the incident command system.
• describe how the incident command system would be utilized by EMS practitioners in a future incident.