The Volunteer Mobile Emergency Response Unit was born from a perception. Many of the volunteer fire departments in Central Texas have limited resources and better care of responders should be provided at large-scale incidents. Somebody should do something. Somebody is.

Let's face it. It is hard to find enough people who will actualy show up for training, and work parties, and at all hours of the day and night because their neighbors need them. It shouldn't be hard. But we know it is. So when you find these people, whether they are firefighters, police, EMS or other emergency responders, the right thing to do is take good care of them.

The Problem

Let's say you are a paid firefighter, working for a big department, working on a major incident. They probably have the resources to rotate crews more effectively and provide organized care of the responders If you have a heat injury, and have to take a day or two off work to recover, your employer will probably understand -- because they are the Fire Department.

But, if you are a volunteer, no matter how understanding your "real life" employer may be, they have a business or an agency to run and you may have to decide between putting food on the table or being a responder. That is made more likely when departments don't have an effective program to care for responders at incidents.

You're in REHAB?

Mention the term "Rehab" (short for rehabilitation) and you will get a variety of reactions, depending on who your audience. Most people automatically think "substance abuse" recovery. But at an emergency incident, it is a combination of protection from temperature extremes, medical monitoring, oral fluid replacement, rest, food and perhaps a clothing change. But Rehab - is not consistantly available and the VMERU intends to change that, in Central Texas.

What's not standard is sub-standard.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is on the way to setting the new standard for rehab at emergency incidents and training exercises. The 2003 Edition of NFPA 1584: Rehabilitation of Members Operating at Incident Scene Operations and Training Exercises is scheduled to be replaced in Fall 2007 with significant changes which reflect the emerging science of rehab.

The first significant change is in the title. To be called, Standard on the Rehabilitation Process for Members During Emergency Operations and Training Exercises 2008 Edition

What began as recommendations is becoming a standard. Anything less becomes sub-standard. The consequences of having provided sub-standard care are real.

Do you recognize this?

Recognizing that they are in it for the "long haul", the Incident Commander calls for an EMS Stand By at the scene and requests Rehab. What happens next may not be pretty. In this case, a fire fighter's wife brings a couple of cases of water and some burgers from a fast food place. They get carried in to about 50 feet from the fire and those who are close by, eat a few cold cheeseburgers drink 20 ounces of water and then go back and work to exaustion. Some don't even get that break.

The ambulance arrives. Faced with the tangle of hoses and parked vehicles and the ongoing tanker shuttle traffic, the crew parks the ambulance a distance from the scene -- where they sit, catch up on their paperwork and perhaps their sleep. Possibly, they will walk in to watch the fire operation, but they leave their gear at the truck. An hour after they arrived on scene, they are dispatched on a priority call.

Sounds all too familiar?

What's coming?

Let's look at the new standard under the draft NFPA 1584 (2008).

Time to do Rehab Right

The Volunteer Mobile Emergency Response Unit is planning to become operational in Fall 2007. It will begin with not enough volunteers and not enough equipment, but it will be a beginning.

Volunteer training sessions will be scheduled.

Unit SOPs and draft model SOPs will be available to departments for review and comment.

Draft interagency agreements will be available to departments for review and comment.

Departments may request VMERU deployment to incidents and training per their agreements.

Lists of equipment on hand as well as planned requirements are being developed.

Lists of required expendable items, food and beverages are being developed.

For more information, contact director@rehabsector.org