U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Resource: Ambulance Strike Team
Category: Health and Medical (ESF #8)
Kind: Team
Minimum Capabilities (Component) Minimum Capabilities
(Metric)		 Type I Type II Type III Type IV Other
Supervisor
Must have own vehicle with communications capabilities—both en route and at scene—to all other units under their supervision emedoutlet.com		 Can be deployed to cover 12-hour periods or 24-hour ops depending on number of ambulances needed at one time. Should be self-sufficient for 72 hours

Advanced Life Support: Minimum 2 staff (paramedic and EMT) transport per ambulance, meets or exceeds standards as addressed by EPA, OSHA, and NFP 471, 472, 473, and 29 CFR 1910, 120 ETA 3-11 to work in HazMat Level B and specific threat conditions; All immunized in accordance with CDC core adult immunizations and specific threat as appropriate

Advanced Life Support: Minimum 2 staff (paramedic and EMT) per ambulance, non-HazMat response

Basic Life Support: Minimum 2 staff (EMT and driver) per ambulance, meets or exceeds standards as addressed by EPA, OSHA, and NFP 471, 472, 473, and 29 CFR 1910, 120 ETA 3-11 to work in HazMat Level B and specific threat conditions; All immunized in accordance with CDC core adult immunizations and specific threat as appropriate

Basic Life Support: Minimum
2 personnel
(1 EMT and 1 driver)
per ambulance

  
Ambulances Emergency Medical Services team with equipment, supplies, and vehicle for patient transport (Type I-IV) and emergency medical care out of hospital

5 Type I Ambulances;
Capable of transporting minimum of 10 litter patients total (2 per ambulance)

5 Type II Ambulances;
Minimum capability of
10 litter patients

5 Type III Ambulances;
Minimum capability of
10 litter patients

5 Type IV Ambulances;
Minimum capability of
10 litter patients

  
Personnel ICS 100 and 200
Basic MCI Field Operations (8 hours)
Strike Team Leader – Ambulance Course (8 hours);
1 year leadership experience in a related field

ICS 300
HazMat FRO Course

WMD Awareness Course

3 years of EMS experience

 

 

 

  
Supplies

Go-Pack

Equipment and supplies to meet minimum scope of practice (ALS or BLS)

Equipment and supplies to meet minimum requirements of State agency that provides regulation

 

 

 

 

  

Comments:

An Ambulance Strike Team is a group of five ambulances of the same type with common communications and a leader. It provides an operational grouping of ambulances complete with supervisory element for organization command and control. The strike teams may be all ALS or all BLS. Support elements needed include fuel, security, resupply of medical supplies, and support for a minimum of 11 personnel (if 2 crew per ambulance) or 16 (if 3 crew per ambulance). Temperature control support may be required for medical supplies in some environments. Vehicle maintenance support required.

 
National Mutual Aid & Resource Management Initiative
Emergency Medical Services