Terrorism response training for emergency medical technicians since september 11, 2001: A nation unprepared

Abstract

Study objectives: The primary goal of this study is to assess the amount and type of terrorism-related training provided to emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in the 2 years since September 11, 2001. Methods: The Longitudinal Emergency Medical Technician Attitude and Demographic Study surveyed a nationally representative sample of EMTs in fall 2003 about terrorism-related training received since September 11, 2001. Responses between EMT–basics (EMT-Bs) and EMT–paramedics (EMT-Ps) were compared. A P value less than .05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Responses were received from 510 EMT-Bs and 862 EMT-Ps throughout the United States. Most providers wanted to be part of the emergency medical services (EMS) initial response team (73%) or EMS recovery team (67%). EMT-Bs were less likely than EMT-Ps to report that they had received training in use of an air-purifying respirator (30% versus 45%); recognition of nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) hazards (67% versus 79%); use of a Mark 1 antidote kit (17% versus 34%); or use of personal protective equipment against NBC hazards (59% versus 65%). EMT-Bs also reported less often than EMT-Ps that they had received training in treatment and management of patients injured by NBC exposure (58% versus 72%), incendiaries or explosives (43% versus 59%), or structural collapse (32% versus 39%). A significant number of EMT-Bs and EMT-Ps (23% and 15%) reported receiving no training in personal protective equipment use or recognition and treatment of hazardous material exposures. The median number of hours of such training was less than 1 hour for EMT-Bs and between 1 and 4 hours for EMT-Ps. Less than 1 hour of training for responding to terrorism was received by 51% of all EMTs. Length of training was also associated with community size, with 41% of urban EMTs reporting less than 1 hour, compared to 57% of rural EMTs. Conclusion: EMTs were eager to assist with the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Some training has occurred since then to prepare EMTs, but in the 2 years since September 11, 2001, EMT-Bs received significantly less training than paramedics, particularly in rural areas, and a majority of EMS providers received less than 1 hour of training related to terrorism response. Study objectives: The primary goal of this study is to assess the amount and type of terrorism-related training provided to emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in the 2 years since September 11, 2001. Methods: The Longitudinal Emergency Medical Technician Attitude and Demographic Study surveyed a nationally representative sample of EMTs in fall 2003 about terrorism-related training received since September 11, 2001. Responses between EMT–basics (EMT-Bs) and EMT–paramedics (EMT-Ps) were compared. A P value less than .05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Responses were received from 510 EMT-Bs and 862 EMT-Ps throughout the United States. Most providers wanted to be part of the emergency medical services (EMS) initial response team (73%) or EMS recovery team (67%). EMT-Bs were less likely than EMT-Ps to report that they had received training in use of an air-purifying respirator (30% versus 45%); recognition of nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) hazards (67% versus 79%); use of a Mark 1 antidote kit (17% versus 34%); or use of personal protective equipment against NBC hazards (59% versus 65%). EMT-Bs also reported less often than EMT-Ps that they had received training in treatment and management of patients injured by NBC exposure (58% versus 72%), incendiaries or explosives (43% versus 59%), or structural collapse (32% versus 39%). A significant number of EMT-Bs and EMT-Ps (23% and 15%) reported receiving no training in personal protective equipment use or recognition and treatment of hazardous material exposures. The median number of hours of such training was less than 1 hour for EMT-Bs and between 1 and 4 hours for EMT-Ps. Less than 1 hour of training for responding to terrorism was received by 51% of all EMTs. Length of training was also associated with community size, with 41% of urban EMTs reporting less than 1 hour, compared to 57% of rural EMTs. Conclusion: EMTs were eager to assist with the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Some training has occurred since then to prepare EMTs, but in the 2 years since September 11, 2001, EMT-Bs received significantly less training than paramedics, particularly in rural areas, and a majority of EMS providers received less than 1 hour of training related to terrorism response.