National EMS Advisory Council Meets in DC

September 12, 2013

The National EMS Advisory Council (NEMSAC) met in Washington, DC, on September 5 and 6. NEMSAC is a Federal advisory committee that meets three times annually and provides advice and recommendations to the United States Department of Transportation and the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS).

Several FICEMS member agencies made presentations on the first day of the meeting. Bill Seifarth with the Department of Homeland Security Office of Health Affairs (OFA) told the Council about a stakeholder meeting that OHA will be hosting on February 3, 2014, to discuss emergency response to mass shooting and improvised explosive device events. There will be a subsequent panel discussion held on February 5 at the EMS Today tradeshow in Washington, DC.

A representative from the United States Fire Administration reported on EMS classes that it offers through the National Fire Academy. Classes are free and there are vacancies for classes that are currently enrolling. Click here for more information.

Dia Gainor with the National Association of State EMS Officials announced that an EMS Workforce Guidelines document that has been under development for some time is nearly ready to be published. National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) EMS/Rescue Section Director-at-large Ed Mund has represented the NVFC on a stakeholder group that provided input into the development of the document.

Marion Cain with the Department of Defense (DoD) provided an update on the White House Forum on Military Credentialing and Licensure for EMS, which NVFC EMS/Rescue Section Chairman Ken Knipper participated in earlier this year. DoD is in the process of updating the military’s medic training to meet domestic EMT-A certification levels, although that training program is not currently accredited.

Representatives from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Health and Human Services also provided updates on ongoing projects related to EMS.

For more information on NEMSAC, visit www.EMS.gov. NVFC Director of Government Relations Dave Finger attended the meeting and can be reached at dfinger@nvfc.org or (202) 887-5700 if you have any questions about the meeting.