Special Operations
The Special Operations department, composed of several specialized units, is responsible for nontraditional emergency medical services as described below. For information on how some of these units work together or for information on experimental services, such as a joint boat operation with the RI Department of Environmental Mangement Police through Yawgoo Valley Search and Rescue, please see our Special Event Details page.
Our Special Operations department is undergoing significant development at the time. This page will be continually updated as the department grows and programs are implemented.
- Tactical EMS Unit
- Hazardous Materials EMS Response Unit
- Bicycle Unit
- Fire Rehabilitation Unit
- Disaster/MCI Response Unit
- Search and Rescue Unit
- Specialized Vehicle Response Unit
Tactical EMS Unit
The tactical EMS unit, conceptualized in 2005 and implemented in 2007, is in the development and training stage. This involves a significant amount of training for the members of this unit to undergo official Tactical EMS (TEMS) training courses. The unit will specialize in responding to situations such as hostage barricade, active shooters, high-risk warrant and other situations requiring a tactical response team. Members are being certified in TEMS and other related trainings.
Team membership is selective and on a case by case basis.
Hazardous Materials EMS Response Unit
The Hazardous Materials EMS Response Unit, conceptualized in 2005 and implemented in 2007, is in the development and training stage. The team will undergo training according to the DOT Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) Hazardous Materials and Terrorist Incident Response Guidelines for EMS Level 2. This team will undergo training across the country to be better able to respond to weapons of mass destruction and hazardous materials incidents and provide EMS care to patients in the warm zone. The team will be able to utilize Level C HazMat Personal Protective Equipment suits. Through a combination of grants from state and federal sources, we will have at least eight such suits with air purifying respirators available to this team.
While new Department of Health guidelines will require all EMS agencies to train all EMTs in basic HazMat response, this team will have specialized training and be available to deploy to such incidents with a capability beyond the requirements.
Team membership is selective and on a case by case basis.
Bicycle Unit
The Bicycle Unit has been used with URI EMS on and off through the years for most of our existence. The Unit used personal equipment and did not have any specialized training. Currently under development is a proposal to bring specialized department-owned bicycles/equipment and EMS bicycle response training to professionalize the Unit.
Team membership is open to all department Crew Technicians.
Fire Rehabilitation Unit
The Unit oversees the training and guidelines for the provision of EMS services at fire scenes, particularly in regards to treating firefighters but also to treat victims of fire. All supervisors are trained to oversee the provision of fire rehabilitation services using national standards and guidelines for firefighter monitoring. When responding to a fire, URI EMS will respond with water, gatorade for rehydration and multiple-patient oxygen delivery devices, among other specialized equipment.
Fire Rehab services are offerred regionally upon request. URI EMS responded to a major structure fire in Charlestown on July 4, 2007 to assist Charlestown Ambulance in providing rehab services to well over 80 firefighters as their resources were overwhelmed. URI EMS also provided rehab services to Westerly Ambulance in the summer of 2007 for a structure fire at the Bradford Dye Association and in early 2007 for a house fire near campus on French Rd.
The Fire Rehabilitation Unit is an administrative unit responsible for maintaining training and response guidelines. All members undergo training in fire rehabilitation services.
Disaster/MCI Response Unit
The Unit oversees the training and guidelines for Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI), Major Incidents and Disaster Response. URI EMS maintains basic MCI equipment such as a mass oxygen delivery device utilized to respond to an incident with multiple patients. URI EMS trains all members in the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) to at least the 100 level. All EMTs train to at least the 200 level, supervisors to 300 and command staff to 400. This provides our members with the appropriate knowledge for managing large-scale or special rescue situations with ease and also provides standardized frameworks for interoperability with other departments.
The Disaster/MCI Response Unit is an administrative unit responsible for maintaining training and response guidelines. All members undergo training in MCI response.
Search and Rescue Unit
The Search and Rescue (SAR) Unit oversees the training and guidelines for Search and Rescue operations. Specialized SAR training is available from time to time and all members are highly encouraged to attend.
The Search and Rescue Unit is an administrative unit responsible for maintaining training and response guidelines. All members undergo training in Search and Rescue response as courses are offered.
Specialized Vehicle Response Unit
The Specialized Vehicle Response Unit oversees the training and guidelines for operations involving all-terrain response vehicles. Currently, URI EMS does not own any such vehicles. Such vehicles are loaned under generous agreements with other agencies such as Yawgoo Valley Search and Rescue (YVSAR). Members undergo basic training in the utilization of such vehicles for special events.
Membership to the Unit is currently limited to supervisors and other select senior members.
