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Organizational Description and Emergency Preparedness of Nationally Registered First Responders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2017

Jonathan R. Studnek  and
Antonio R. Fernandez
Jonathan R. Studnek*
Affiliation:
National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Columbus, Ohio, USA
Antonio R. Fernandez
Affiliation:
National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Columbus, Ohio, USA
*
Jonathan R. Studnek, MS, NREMT-P, EMS Research Fellow, National Registry of EMTs, PO Box 29233, Columbus, OH 43230 USA, E-mail: jons@nremt.org
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Abstract

Introduction: This study intended to describe the types of organizations and communities in which Nationally Registered First Responders (NRFR) perform their duties. Also, it aimed to estimate the number of NRFR who received disaster preparedness training. It was hypothesized that NRFR participation in disaster preparedness training was related to the types of organizations and communities in which they performed their duties.

Methods: The NRFR re-registering in 2006 were asked to report the organization type and community size in which they work. They also were asked to report the amount and content of preparedness training received during the last 24 months. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was utilized to describe the relationship between NRFR organizational characteristics and the receipt of disaster preparedness training.

Results: The analysis included 872 (59%) individuals who completed the survey and reported working for one or more emergency medical services (EMS) organizations. The majority of NRFR performed work in rural areas (75%) and more NRFR reported working for fire departments (61%) than for any other organization type. In all categories of service type, participants who reported working in urban areas had higher odds of receiving disaster preparedness training than those working in rural areas. Additionally, regardless of community size, individuals working in fire departments were more likely to receive disaster preparedness training.

Conclusions: This study indicated that the majority of NRFR perform EMS duties for fire departments and work in rural communities. In this sample of NRFR, more than one-quarter did not receive disaster preparedness training within a 24-month period. Finally, a statistical model was constructed that indicated a relationship between service type, community size, and the participation in disaster preparedness training.

Keywords

emergencyfirst responderspreparedness
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , June 2008 , pp. 250 - 255
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2008

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