Preparedness

FRED Alerting System: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has established an alerting and real time resource inventorying system geared toward hospital resources called the FRED system. FRED stands for Facility Resource Emergency Database. Hospitals, EMS councils, and communications centers have access to this resource. FRED can be activated by calling the office directly and using the option to page a staff member after hours or by calling your local EMA office.

CISM (Critical Incident Stress Managment):The EMMCO West CISM team, led by Clinical Director, Anthony Bostaph, has a primary mission of assisting emergency services personnel in coping with normal reactions to abnormal events. To activate the CISM team, call EMMCO West at 814-337-5380. There are directions for team activation 24/7.

Special Event Plan: Large events have the potential to dramatically stress local emergency resources should an untoward event occur. It is highly recommended that EMS agencies work with event planners, municipal leaders, fire, police and other emergency services to plan for such events. There is a template plan and post event reporting form to the right. You can submit your special event EMS plan to your regional council for DOH approval.

EMS Strike Team: The PA Department of Health, Bureau of EMS, has identified 150 ambulance services throughout the Commonwealth to participate in the EMS Strike Team program. These teams of ambulances are designed to quickly mobilize and respond to locations experiencing significant EMS system surge. The teams have deployed both in-state and out-of-state. Team members receive immunizations, training, and equipment/supplies needed to be self-sufficient for up to 72 Hours. Each responding ambulance is staffed with a minimum of 4 EMS certified personnel, capable of performing 24 hour operations. These teams are activated through the local county EMA, EMS Regional Council, PEMA, or the PA Department of Health.

MSEC Trailer: (Mobile Surge Equipment Cache)

Regional EMS Councils throughout the Commonwealth have received at least one MSEC trailer from the PA Department of Health. The trailer system is designed to augment and supplement local emergency response systems in the time of an EMS system surge event (disaster, pandemic, etc..). The trailer is designed to establish a medical support shelter for non-critical medical patients. It uses existing facilities (i.e. school gymnasium, social hall) within a community. The trailer is supported by the regional EMS Strike Team and by local emergency management personnel. The MSEC trailer can also be used for temporary housing of emergency personnel, portable shelter (cooling/warming station), or for incident management operations. The MSEC can be requested through the local EMA, regional EMS council, PEMA, or PA Department of Health.