ID
3-508-1028
Name
Ambulance Ground Team
Status
Published
Version
1.7
Updated
11/15/2019 10:10:55 AM
Original Release
03/01/2009
Last Major Release
11/15/2019
Description
The Ambulance Ground Team provides Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and deploys with personnel, equipment, and supplies to provide patient transport with emergency medical care.
Resource Category
Emergency Medical Services
Primary Core Capability
Public Health, Healthcare, and Emergency Medical Services
Secondary Core Capability
Critical Transportation
Resource Kind
Team
Overall Function
The Ambulance Ground Team: 1. Provides out-of-hospital emergency medical care, evacuation, and transportation services 2. Is deployable as single resource, or as part of a task force
Composition and Ordering Specifications
1. Discuss logistics for deploying this resource, such as working conditions, length of deployment, security, lodging, transportation, and meals, prior to deployment 2. Request a minimum of four persons for staffing to meet the two-personnel minimum and to provide for crew rest if the ambulance is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week 3. Request a minimum of six personnel for each ambulance if the expected operation duration is five or more days 4. Requestor should specify the need for either Advanced Life Support (ALS) or Basic Life Support (BLS) services 5. Discuss exceptions for or additions to EMS positions, such as Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Paramedic, and Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) 6. Each ambulance team member should have authorization to operate the vehicle 7. Specify a National Incident Management System (NIMS) Type 1 or NIMS Type 3 Hazardous Materials Level B service in request for hazardous materials response
Supporting Core Capabilities
None
Components
Component Notes  
Minimum Personnel Per VehicleNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 2Same as Type 3
Type 3Same as Type 4
Type 42
Support Personnel Per VehicleAuthority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) determines support personnel authorized to operate the vehicle.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 21 – NIMS Type 1 Paramedic 1 – NIMS Type 1 Ambulance Operator
Type 3Same as Type 4
Type 41 – NIMS Type 1 EMT 1 – NIMS Type 2 Ambulance Operator
Level of Care Capability Per TeamThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) address BLS and ALS.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 2ALS
Type 3Same as Type 4
Type 4BLS
Patient Capacity Per VehicleNon-ambulatory patients are those not able to walk.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 2Same as Type 3
Type 3Same as Type 4
Type 42 – Non-ambulatory patients
Patient Care Supplies Per VehicleNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 2Same as Type 3, PLUS: 1. ALS/Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) medications, cardiac monitors, needles, syringes, advance airways, sterile Intravenous (IV) solutions, and tubing 2. Onboard power inverter capable of converting vehicle current for use with specialized medical equipment
Type 3Same as Type 4
Type 4Appropriate equipment and supplies to optimize out-of-hospital delivery of care, to include: 1. Airways 2. Oxygen 3. Oxygen masks 4. Bandages and dressings 5. Splints and backboards 6. Cervical collars 7. Tape 8. Suction devices 9. Automated external defibrillator (AED) 10. Pulse oximeter 11. Sheets and blankets 12. Other apparatus needed to stabilize and treat EMS patients
Personal Protective Equipment Equipment Per Vehicle1. PPE is mission-specific and varies with the working environment. PPE includes protective footwear, protective clothing for skin exposure, eye and hearing protection, respirators, gloves, and masks. 2. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.134 and Part 1910.1030 address PPE requirements. 3. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 471, 472, 473 and OSHA CFR 29 Part 1910.120 address HAZMAT.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 3
Type 2Same as Type 4
Type 3Same as Type 4, PLUS: Range of supplies commensurate with the mission assignment, including PPE appropriate to the Level B hazardous material (HAZMAT) threat
Type 4PPE consistent with OSHA regulations
Communications Equipment Per Vehicle1. Consider the need for Global Positioning System (GPS) locating devices. 2. Consider alternate forms of communication, such as satellite phones, based on the mission assignment and team needs. 3. Requestor should verify interoperability of ambulance communications equipment and plan for augmenting existing communications equipment.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 2Same as Type 3
Type 3Same as Type 4
Type 41. Portable radio with programmable or on-incident frequencies (one per team member) 2. Cell phone (one per team)
816
Notes
References
Reference
FEMA, NIMS 509: Ambulance Operator
FEMA, NIMS 509: Emergency Medical Responder
FEMA, NIMS 509: Emergency Medical Technician
FEMA, NIMS 509: Paramedic
FEMA, National Incident Management System (NIMS), October 2017
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 471: Recommended Practice for Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents, 2002
NFPA 472: Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents, 2013
NFPA 473: Standard for Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents, 2013
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Standard Operating Safety Guides, June 1992
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR Part 1910.120: Hazardous Materials Awareness, latest edition adopted
OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.134: Respiratory Protection, latest edition adopted
OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.1030: Bloodborne Pathogens, latest edition adopted
American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma et al., Equipment for Ambulances, October/December 2013