Preparedness,
Prevention and Safety 

Wisconsin EMS is closely integrated with Hospital and Public Health Preparedness.

The Wisconsin Hospital Emergency Preparedness Program supports hospital emergency preparedness planning and response to mass casualty incidents or pandemic events. 

Wisconsin’s public health preparedness program supports and enhances the capacity of the state, local public health departments/Tribes, and the healthcare system to prepare for public health threats and emergencies through planning, exercising, responding, and training.  Public health is better equipped, has improved its response plans, is planning regionally as well as locally, is training staff, and has exercised the public health response plans across the state. 

In a public health emergency, it is frequently EMS that has first contact with those affected. In hospital disaster response, EMS is called upon to assist within the hospital as well as transporting patients to other facilities away from the disaster.  

Below you will find guidance and planning documents to assist in your services' preparedness, prevention and safety efforts:

General

• Needlestick Prevention Act: EpiPen Use
• OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan
• High Visibility Garments Webinar (exit DHS)
• Infection Prevention Guidelines (exit DHS)
• TB testing and Guidelines for EMS personnel
• Best Practices for Protecting EMS Responders during Treatment and Transport of Victims of Hazardous Substance Releases (PDF, 1502 KB)
• Safety Engineered EpiPen

Pandemic Flu

• Use of EMS Personnel in Public Health Immunization Clinics 
  • H1N1 Information Powerpoint (PDF, 668 KB)
  • Guidelines for 9-1-1 Call Centers (PDF, 70 KB)
  • N-95 Mask Re-use (PDF, 67 KB)
• EMS Pandemic Influenza Guidelines for Statewide Adoption (exit DHS)
• Preparing for Pandemic Influenza: Recommendations for Protocol Development for 9-1-1 Personnel (exit DHS)
• Interim Guidance for Cleaning Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Transport Vehicles during an Influenza Pandemic (exit DHS)
• Wisconsin Pandemic Flu Site (exit DHS)
• Healthcare Worker Influenza Vaccination: A Matter of Patient Safety

Diseases

• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Preparedness

• Hospital Emergency Preparedness Program
• Wisconsin EMS Mass Casualty Incident Response Planning Guide (PDF, 578 KB)

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Last Revised: May 02, 2013