Guidelines for EMS providers as they prepare for and develop operational plans for a pandemic have been published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Office of Emergency Medical Services.

     The document, EMS Pandemic Influenza Guidelines for Statewide Adoption, addresses such issues as the role of EMS during an outbreak, maintaining EMS operations, workforce protection and infection control. It also provides information about dealing with people with special needs.

     During last month's EMS EXPO in Orlando, FL, NHTSA EMS Director Drew Dawson told first responders they should review the document for valuable information and said it's important that EMS agencies develop a plan.

     Among the issues to plan for are services becoming overburdened with calls and measures to protect the health of their crews.

     Jerry Johnston, president of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, thanked Dawson for keeping EMS leaders abreast of the issues.

     "For the first time, we're being invited to sit down at the table. This is very important--to have the opportunity to participate," he said.

     The new executive director of NAEMT said she will focus on enhancing EMS leaders' relationships with federal partners. Pam Cohen said it's essential that NAEMT keep in touch with the CDC, NHTSA and other organizations. "There are so many issues and challenges affecting EMS. We can't afford to sit on the sidelines."

     Officials have predicted a flu pandemic will cause massive disruptions that could last for months and cities, states and businesses must make plans now to keep functioning and not count on a federal rescue.

     The National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza: Implementation Plan directed the Department of Transportation, in cooperation with its federal partners, to develop statewide EMS pandemic influenza guidelines, as well as model protocols for 9-1-1 call centers and PSAPs. NHTSA was delegated responsibility for both tasks. The stakeholders worked to ensure that the two reports are closely interconnected, and it is recommended that both documents, EMS Pandemic Influenza Guidelines for Statewide Adoption and Preparing for Pandemic Influenza: Recommendations for Protocol Development for 9-1-1 Personnel and Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), be reviewed together.

     The initial NHTSA guidelines were released in May and may undergo future revisions, Dawson says. The report includes the following topics: