Advancing the EMS profession

EMS Preparedness

EMS systems and providers are an integral component of each state’s emergency response system and are also a critical element of our nation’s disaster and mass casualty response infrastructure. The vital role played by EMS in the Boston Marathon bombings, Texas fertilizer plant explosion, Hurricane Sandy, and the Aurora and Tucson shootings, illustrates the significance of EMS in saving lives in the worst of circumstances.

Below are resources to help prepare EMS agencies and practitioners to respond to disasters and mass casualty incidents.





CategoryTitleDescription
Public HealthCDC’s Public Health Preparedness and Response 2018 National SnapshotReview and analysis of public health threats by addressing challenges, strategies, and how to move the dial.
Public HealthEmergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) and disastersFact sheet on EMTALA and disasters with links to resources for more information.
Mass Casualty IncidentStandard for an Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER) ProgramNFPA 3000™ (PS) helps communities establish unified active shooter/hostile event planning, response and recovery programs.
Mass Casualty IncidentTranscending Tragic Trajectories: A Post - Disaster Resilience Check ListPresentation by Stefan Poloczek, EMS Medical Director from Berlin, Germany.
Mass Casualty IncidentASPR’s Vision of Enhancing Medical Surge CapacityA New Approach to Health Care Emergency Preparedness and Response.
Natural DisasterLessons Learned from Hurricane Sandy & Recommendations for Improved Healthcare & Public Health Response & Recovery for Future Catastrophic EventsA research project developed to evaluate how the healthcare system was negatively affected in preparation for, during, and after Hurricane Sandy.
Mass Casualty IncidentDeadliest American Disasters and Large-Loss-of-Life EventsDeadliest American/U.S. disasters and other large-loss-of-life events (10 or more lives lost)
Public Health35 U.S. Hospitals Designated as Ebola Treatment CentersCDC listing of current Ebola treatment centers
Public HealthCDC information on Ebola for healthcare workersInformation for health care workers; algorithm under the section “Medical Transport.”
Public HealthAlgorithm for management of patients with possible EbolaAlgorithm for EMS systems and 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for management of patients with possible Ebola in the United States.
Public HealthThe Ebola Improvement PlanThe Ebola Improvement Plan focuses on the main areas of concern, including global health security, incident management, public health, medical countermeasures and response funding. 2016
Public HealthHow Ebola spreadsInfographic on the spread of the deadly virus, and how officials have responded.
Mass Casualty IncidentDept. of Homeland Security Project Responder 5Report to identify, validate and prioritize capability needs for emergency response to critical incidents, including complex, multi-jurisdictional, large-scale, high-risk, high-probability or high-consequence incidents, or incidents that have important social or economic impacts.
Mass Casualty IncidentImproving Active Shooter/ Hostile Event ResponseAddressing the improvement of active shooter/hostile event response.
WebsiteBlue CampaignU.S. Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to combat human trafficking.
WebsiteAmerican College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)Bombings: Injury Patterns and Care
WebsiteStop The BleedStop The Bleed Campaign
WebsiteFirst Responder Network AuthorityFIRSTNET
WebsiteCenters for Disease Control and PreventionEmergency Preparedness and Response
WebsiteEmergency Medical Services for Children, Innovation and Improvement Center Communities of Practice
WebsiteDepartment of Health and Human Service, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) – Public Health EmergencyTRACIE
WebsiteDepartment of Health and Human Service, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) – Public Health EmergencyPublic Health Emergency
WebsiteNational Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA)Preparedness
WebsiteNational Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies
WebsiteFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Training
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