ID
8-509-1472
Name
Urban Search and Rescue Medical Specialist
Status
Published
Version
1.1
Updated
6/14/2023 12:40:21 PM
Original Release
10/05/2021
Last Major Release
 
NQS Position
Resource Category
Search and Rescue
Primary Core Capability
Mass Search and Rescue Operations
Secondary Core Capability
 
Resource Kind
Personnel
Overall Function
The Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Medical Specialist provides search and rescue (SAR)-specific medical care for team members and those rescued during SAR-related operations.
Single resource
In conjunction with a NIMS typed team
NIMS Typed Team
 
In conjunction with a NIMS typed unit
NIMS Typed Unit
 
Description Notes
Not Specified
Supporting Core Capabilities
None
Types
Type Description
Type 1The US&R Medical Specialist: 1. Reports directly to the Medical Team Manager 2. Delivers medical care to all task force personnel, SAR victims and search dogs during disaster events, as necessary, and manages their general health considerations 3. Implements the medical action plans as the Medical Team Manager specifies 4. Accounts for, maintains and makes minor repairs for all issued equipment
Components
Component Notes  
EducationNot Specified
Component Types
Type Criteria
Type 1Not Specified
TrainingIdentified equivalent trainings should meet or exceed course learning objectives.
Component Types
Type Criteria
Type 1Completion of the following: 1. IS-100: Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS-100 2. IS-200: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response, ICS-200 3. IS-700: National Incident Management System, An Introduction 4. IS-800: National Response Framework, An Introduction 5. FEMA US&R Medical Team Specialist – Instructor-Led Training (course code: 9P3130) or Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)-approved SAR medical training specific to the area of practice (wilderness, alpine, canine, disaster, water, urban, collapse and so on) focused on medical conditions common to SAR incidents, such as lacerations, fractures, shock, crush injury/crush syndrome, burns, penetrating and blunt trauma, head injuries, respiratory embarrassment, hyper/hypothermia and infections; training must also provide experience treating common medical emergencies, eye injuries, minor orthopedic injuries and so on 6. AHJ-approved critical incident stress management training 7. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 472: Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents (awareness-level training) or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 1910.120 (q)(6)(ii): Hazardous materials operations training, or equivalent basic instruction on responding to and operating in a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) incident 8. NFPA 1006: Standard for Technical Rescue Personnel Professional Qualifications (awareness-level training), including: a. General Requirements b. Confined Space Rescue, or applicable industry equivalent, such as mine or cave rescue c. Water Rescue Operations d. Structural Collapse Rescue, or applicable industry equivalent, such as mine or cave rescue e. Trench Rescue, or applicable industry equivalent, such as mine or cave rescue f. Rope Rescue g. Duties of the entrant per OSHA 1910.146: Permit-required confined spaces, or applicable industry equivalent, such as mine or cave SAR 9. NFPA 1670: Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents (awareness-level training), including: a. General Requirements b. Confined Space SAR, or applicable industry equivalent, such as mine or cave SAR c. Water SAR Operations d. Structural Collapse SAR, or applicable industry equivalent, such as mine or cave SAR e. Trench SAR, or applicable industry equivalent, such as mine or cave SAR f. Rope Rescue
ExperienceA canine emergency medical course supports the ability to provide canine wellness and emergency care.
Component Types
Type Criteria
Type 1Knowledge, skills and abilities: 1. Ability to provide canine wellness and emergency care Experience: 1. Successful completion of US&R Medical Specialist Position Task Book (PTB), or equivalent AHJ documentation. 2. Ongoing, active participation with an emergency medical services-providing entity, organization or agency or in a clinical practice setting such as a hospital, health system, agency or service commensurate with the mission assignment
Physical/Medical FitnessThe NIMS Guideline for the National Qualification System (NQS) defines Physical/Medical Fitness levels for NIMS positions.
Component Types
Type Criteria
Type 11. Arduous 2. Maintains immunizations in accordance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) immunization recommendations
CurrencyNot Specified
Component Types
Type Criteria
Type 11. Functions in this position during a qualifying incident, planned event, exercise, drill or simulation at least once every three years 2. Ongoing, active participation with an Emergency Medical Services (EMS)-providing entity, organization or agency—or in a clinical practice setting such as a hospital, health system, agency or service commensurate with mission assignment 3. Keeps immunizations up to date and commensurate with mission assignment
Professional and Technical Licenses and CertificationsNot Specified
Component Types
Type Criteria
Type 11. State-, tribe- or territory-granted active status of legal authority to function as one of the following: a. Paramedic b. Physician assistant c. Registered nurse practitioner d. Registered nurse – currently certified/licensed as a physician assistant e. Registered nurse practitioner or registered nurse – certified within an accredited organization or municipality, actively practicing advanced pre-hospital life support and fulfilling one of the following: National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians paramedic standards or state certification requirements 2. Certified in Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) regimens, or equivalent
Composition and Ordering Specifications
Specification
Discuss logistics for deploying this position, such as working conditions, length of deployment, security, lodging, transportation and meals, prior to deployment.
15481548
Notes
References
Reference
FEMA, National Incident Management System (NIMS), October 2017
FEMA, NIMS Guideline for the National Qualification System, November 2017
FEMA, National Response Framework, October 2019
FEMA, National Urban Search and Rescue Response System, US&R Operation Manual, Annex E: Position Descriptions, latest edition adopted
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), National Association of State EMS Officials: National EMS Scope of Practice Model, latest edition adopted
Published Versions
Version Publish Date Document Type
1.1 6/14/2023 12:40:21 PM PDF
1.0 10/4/2021 1:58:59 PM PDF