COVID-19 Resources for EMS
EMS, 911 and other public safety professionals play a vital role in the response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
As part of the federal response, NHTSA Office of EMS staff are part of the FEMA Healthcare Resiliency Task Force EMS/Prehospital Team and are helping lead a team focused on supporting State, local and tribal EMS and 911 systems.
The CDC maintains an up-to-date situational summary and has published guidance documents to help EMS, first responders and other healthcare providers fight the pandemic:
The NHTSA Office of EMS and FEMA Healthcare Resiliency Task Force are also maintaining a list of other Federal guidance and resources as well as sample policies and protocols from State and local agencies around the country.
Click here for a guide that describes many of the resources available and see below for links to the resources.
Last Updated: July 13, 2020
Federal Guidance & Resources
PPE and Infection Control
- IAB Guidance on COVID-19 Protection and Decon - Detailed Reaction Guide
- IAB Guidance on COVID-19 Protection and Decon - Quick Reaction Guide
- IAB Strategies for Respiratory Protection During a Pandemic
- IAB Guidelines for Strucutural Fire Fighting Clothing for COVID-19
- IAB Strategies for Extending the Use Life of Respiratory Protection
- Graphic: Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose PPE
- PPE Preservation Best Practices for COVID-19
- PPE Supply for EMS
- Interim Prevention and Control Recommendations
- Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control for COVID-19 FAQs
- Strategies to Optimize the Supply of PPE and Equipment
- Protecting Yourself from COVID-19 in the Workplace
- EUA Issued by FDA Permits Emergency Use and Distribution of Filtering Facepiece Respirators
- Imported, Non-NIOSH-Approved Disposable Filtering Facepiece Respirators
- The Authorized Respirators
- FDA and CDC Take Action to Increase Access to Respirators, Including N95s, for Health Care Personnel
- Non-NIOSH Approved Respirator EUA FAQ
- HHS to Procure N95 Respirators to Support Healthcare Workers in COVID-19 Outbreaks
- Decontamination and Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators using Contingency and Crisis Capacity Strategies
- CDC Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Burn Rate Calculator
- COVID-19 Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) for Healthcare Personnel
- Use PPE When Caring for Patients with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 (8.5x11)
- Use PPE When Caring for Patients with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 (11x17)
- CDC Decontamination and Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators
- Disinfection of Structural Firefighting PPE
- Disinfection and Reuse of Personal Protective Equipment
- Safe Preservation of Personal Protective Equipment by EMS
- Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Disposable Medical Gloves
- Prehospital Use of the Critical Care Decontamination System for N95 Respirators
Patient Care
- Clinical Questions and Answers about COVID-19
- Evaluating and Testing Persons Under Investigation (PUI)
- Checklist for Transport and Arrival of Patients with Confirmed or Possible COVID-19
- Resources for Hospitals and Healthcare Professionals Preparing for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19
- Interim Guidance for Implementing Home Care of People Not Requiring Hospitalization for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
- Managing Patient and Family Distress Associated with COVID-19 in the Prehospital Care Setting: Tips for EMS Personnel
- WEBINAR SERIES: COVID-19 Clinical Rounds
- Tip Sheet: Helping my Child Cope
- HHS Telehealth: Health care from the safety of our homes
- HHS/ASPR Clinical Rounds
- EMS Personnel Support for Population Testing, Screening, and Vaccination
- EMS Patient Contact Algorithm
Personnel Health & Safety
- Instructions for First Responders Who've Been Tested for COVID-19
- Mitigating Absenteeism by Protecting EMS Clinician’s Psychological Health and Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Interim Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure to Patients with COVID-19
- Healthcare Staff Toolkit for Emotional Coping
- Burnout, Self-Care & COVID-19 Exposure for First Responders
- Burnout, Self-Care & COVID-19 Exposure for Families of First Responders
- Behavioral Health Resources for First Responders
- SAFECOM and NCSWIC Guidance on CARES Act Grants
- Guidance for First Responder Interactions with Suspected/Confirmed COVID-19 Patients
- How to Cope with Stress and Build Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Preventing and Addressing Moral Injury Affecting Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- COVID-19 Testing for First Responders
Crisis Standards of Care
- WEBINAR: Crisis Standards of Care and COVID-19 for EMS
- Crisis Standards of Care: A Systems Framework - Prehospital Care
- State EMS System Pandemic Influenza Preparedness – A Report of the FICEMS
- Preparing for Pandemic Influenza: Protocol Development for 911 Personnel and PSAPs
- EMS Pandemic Influenza Guidelines
- Considerations, Strategies, and Resources for EMS Crisis Standards of Care
Law Enforcement
Operations
- Considerations for State EMS Offices in Response to COVID-19
- FEMA Advisory: Administrator Letter to Emergency Managers
- 911 and EMS Algorithms
- FAQs about Service Animals and the ADA
- CDC Weekly Summary of U.S. COVID-19 Activity
- Guidance on Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers
- Best Practices for Call Screening and Modified Response
- Guidance for Preventing Disease Spread During Transport of Patients at High Risk for COVID-19
- Epidemiology for COVID-19 EMS Providers
- NHTSA EMS Education Pipeline
- Redirecting 911 Calls for Information & Low Acuity Medical Complaints
- COVID-19 Literature and Research Resources for EMS
Funding
- Public Assistance Program Fact Sheet: Private Nonprofit Organizations
- Public Assistance Program Fact Sheet: Emergency Medical Care
- Public Assistance Program Fact Sheet: Eligible Emergency Protective Measures
- Public Assistance Program Fact Sheet: Non-Congregate Sheltering
- FEMA Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide
- FEMA Reimbursement of Costs for Emergency Medical Services during COVID-19
- Supplemental Funding for EMS
Sample State & Local Policies
PPE and Infection Control
Patient Care
- Viral Syndrome Pandemic Triage: Sample Protocol
- Cardiac Arrest: Sample Crisis Standard of Care (Pennsylvania)
- Sample Brochure for potential COVID-19 patients
- Healthcare Facility COVID-19 Triage Screening: Sample Guideline
- COVID-19 ICU Proning: Sample Protocol
- Cardiac Arrest: Sample Crisis Standard of Care (Michigan)
- COVID-19 Treat in Place Criteria: Sample Protocol
- COVID-19 EMS Telehealth or Telephone Consultation for Non-Transport: Sample Protocol
- State by State Guide to Telehealth Laws Across State Lines
