CCPR Report on Emergency Medical Deficiencies Prompts Federal Legislation

March 11, 2005 10:38 AM

A report prepared by New York University’s Center for Catastrophe Preparedness and Response highlighting deficiencies in funding, training, and equipment to enable emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to respond to a major terrorist attack has prompted United States Senator Susan M. Collins of Maine to sponsor federal legislation that will improve the preparedness of the EMS system through more effective coordination of Federal programs.

The report – which reflects the outcome of a national roundtable of EMS and emergency official held by the Center in December 2004 and a review of recent federal and independent reports – found a number of critical issues facing EMS systems in homeland security preparedness. These critical issues include a lack of standards dictating how many EMS personnel should have protective equipment and how many should participate in mass casualty exercises; inadequate preparedness training for EMS personnel; insufficient homeland security funding devoted to EMS systems; and exclusion of EMS leadership from many emergency planning efforts.

Click here to read the full report.

Tim Raducha-Grace, Director of Research and Programs for NYU’s Center, said, “Emergency medical services personnel – paramedics and EMTs – are critical resources in the event of a major terrorist attack or catastrophic event. Yet, while the skills for delivering emergency medical care are well honed and their courage is unquestioned, they receive inadequate support to safeguard themselves in a perilous environment. If EMS personnel are not prepared for a terrorist attack, their ability to provide medical care and transport victims will be compromised. There will be an inadequate medical first response.”

Senator Collins, who is the Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees first responder programs, said, “The excellent report released today by the Center for Catastrophe Preparedness and Response at New York University underscores the need for a comprehensive, coordinated emergency medical services system. Unfortunately, for the past twenty years, Federal support for EMS has been both scarce and uncoordinated. The report confirms that EMS has been shortchanged by the federal government. This alarming trend has to be reversed. Our bill is the first step in that process.”

Senator Collin’s legislation – The Emergency Medical Services Support Act – will offer important, concrete steps for correcting the problems that have persisted since 9/11 by coordinating the federal agencies involved with EMS. This coordination effort will address concerns that EMS providers are currently falling between the cracks of various federal programs.

“Senator Collins deserves to be commended,” said Tim Raducha-Grace. “Her proposed legislation is welcome news. It will go a long way towards ensuring the best possible emergency medical response in the event of a major terrorist attack and routine emergencies.”

Among the key recommendations in the CCPR report are: