New Resource Reporting Tool Tracks PPE and Personnel Shortages to Enhance Local, State and Federal Response

NHTSA asks EMS agencies across the U.S. to take a few minutes each week to report PPE, personnel status within their agency

EMS and its public safety colleagues continue to serve on the frontlines in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Resource procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment and staffing shortages continue to challenge EMS leaders. It is vital that local, State and Federal officials have the information they need to help address these issues.

The NHTSA Office of EMS, with support from the team at the NEMSIS Technical Assistance Center, has designed a reporting tool to allow for a consistent, real-time method of reporting personnel shortages and PPE supply status. Your participation in the EMS Resource Reporting Tool provides a guarantee that your local agency’s resource status is understood by State and National EMS leadership, and that your resource needs are being prioritized.

While this information will be available to State and Federal officials, this reporting tool does not supersede coordination with local and state emergency management, public health or healthcare coalitions. Organizations should still follow local and state procedures for reporting information and requesting supplies or other additional resource needs.

NHTSA is asking agencies to take a few minutes each week, preferably on Monday mornings, to complete the online form. You can find the form, as well as a video and other information explaining how the information is used and how to complete the form, here.

For questions regarding this process, please contact nemsis@hsc.utah.edu.

New COVID-19 Resources on EMS.gov

The NHTSA Office of EMS, along with its Federal partners on the FEMA/HHS Healthcare Resiliency Task Force EMS/Prehospital Team, continues to support the development and revision of guidance documents and other resources to aid local 911 and EMS systems responding to COVID-19. These documents, along with many other resources, are available on the EMS.gov COVID-19 resource page.

Recent additions include resources on COVID-19 testing for first responders and on the impact of the coronavirus on field trauma triage, as well as a spreadsheet to help you estimate PPE needs. You can also find links to the latest guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.