Wilderness Medicine Updates Ep. 9 - FEMA Urban Search and Rescue with Dr Graham Brant-Zawadzki
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Oct 11, 2023 In this discussion, Dr. Graham Brant-Zawadzki, an EMS and Wilderness Fellowship-trained ER physician from Utah, shares his experiences with FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue Task Force during a deployment in Lahaina, Hawaii. He delves into the intricacies of training, essential gear, and the collaborative efforts of diverse teams in disaster responses. Dr. Brant-Zawadzki also highlights the crucial role of healthcare providers and their canine partners in ensuring effective rescue operations. Listeners gain insights on how they can get involved in these critical missions.
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Physician Flexibility And Fair Pay
- Physicians on USAR have schedule flexibility and deployments are not strictly mandatory.
- FEMA compensates fairly and often matches clinical/overtime rates to offset disruption.
Medics Focus On Rescuers And Canines
- USAR medical teams primarily care for responders and working canines rather than large numbers of civilians.
- Local healthcare often handles civilian casualties while USAR focuses on worker health and safety.
Prepare For Canine First Aid
- Train for basic veterinary first aid and work with a lead veterinarian when canines deploy.
- Basic care like rehydration, wound care, and GI management translates well from humans to dogs.