NPS Local Emergency Medical Advisor (LEMA)
National Park Service Local EMS Medical Advisor
There are nearly 400 National Parks in the NPS, many of which have EMS systems. These parks generally have a Local EMS Medical Advisor (LEMA) this site has been created for the following reasons;
- As a reference for current LEMA’s
- As an information source for physician’s who are considering becoming a LEMA.
- As an access point for those who may be interested in upcoming NPS EMS activities, field manuals, conferences and specific EMS scope of practice descriptions.
REFERENCES
Medical Advisor Handbook
A document written as a reference guide and information source for LEMA’s. Describes the duties and responsibilities of a LEMA.
Directors Order 51 (DO-51)
A document signed by the director of the National Park Service outlining EMS policy within the NPS.
Reference Manual 51 (RM-51)
A document designed to cover all aspects of NPS/EMS with specific details aimed at how to follow DO-51.
NPS Field Manuals
The protocols, procedures and medications, followed by NPS EMS providers
- Paramedic
- ParkMedic (AEMT and EMT)
- EMT
- Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
- Tactical EMS
Training Modules
These are modules designed to train NPS EMS providers to perform specific skills and should be utilized by LEMA’s.
Wilderness First Responder to Emergency Medical Responder Transition Modules
Courses
The Parkmedic Primary Certification Course is held every other January in odd years at UCSF Fresno/Community Regional Medical Center. All other courses are offered locally at various parks.
- National Parkmedic Primary Certification Course
- Parkmedic Refreshers
- EMT Refreshers
- Multi-Casualty Incident (MCI) Drills
- Continuing Education
NPS EMS Leadership Committee
This group holds monthly conference calls to discuss, update and plan NPS EMS. It serves as the primary advisory committee to the Branch Chief for EMS services in Washington, DC (WASO). Membership to the committee is designated in RM-51 and includes EMS representatives from each region of the National Park System and the National Medical Advisors.
Workshops/Conferences
Since 1997 approximately once per year, the NPS has held EMS workshops designed as a venue for discussion, presentation of new projects/ideas and prioritizing NPS EMS work. Additionally these conferences provide some CME and an opportunity for the NPS EMS Advisory Committee to both update and take questions from LEMA’s and EMS Coordinators throughout the NPS system.
Links
Endnote Library of Core Wilderness Medicine Articles
NASEMSO – National Association of State EMS Officials
NPS – National Park Service
NREMT – National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians