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A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
Tactical emergency medical support programs: a comprehensive statewide survey.
William P Bozeman1, Benjamin M Morel, Timothy D Black
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. wbozeman@wfubmc.edu
Prehospital Emergency Care
|April 19, 2012
Summary
Approximately one-third of North Carolina EMS systems have tactical emergency medical support (TEMS) programs. These programs serve 64% of the state population, primarily using nonsworn tactical medics.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medical Services
- Public Health
- Law Enforcement Support
Background:
- Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) personnel provide critical aid to law enforcement special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams.
- TEMS programs offer significant benefits to law enforcement agencies, officers, and the public.
- Despite increasing popularity, TEMS programs exhibit organizational variability and lack recent prevalence data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively assess the current prevalence and specific characteristics of TEMS programs within North Carolina.
- To establish a baseline understanding of TEMS program distribution and operational models in a southeastern state.
Main Methods:
- A statewide telephone and email survey was conducted of all 101 North Carolina emergency medical services (EMS) systems.
- Data collected included the presence of TEMS programs and their selected characteristics.
- U.S. Census data were utilized to determine the population impact of these programs.
Main Results:
- All 101 surveyed EMS systems were contacted, with 33 counties (33%) reporting active TEMS programs.
- These TEMS programs provide support to 56 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
- TEMS programs are predominantly in urban/suburban areas, serving 5.9 million people (64% of the state population), with 88% of medics being nonsworn officers.
Conclusions:
- About one-third of North Carolina's county-based EMS systems operate TEMS programs.
- These programs cover a substantial portion of the state's population, relying mainly on nonsworn tactical medics.
- Further research comparing regional differences and serial surveillance is recommended to track the growth and impact of this specialized field.
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