Does (or should) the National Guard provide medical treatment during state of emergency?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 19:55:13 -0400

With the civil unrest happening in various parts of the country, I am interested to ask about the victims of the violence. I have never responded to an SoE so I am unsure how or who comes in to lay when it comes down to the details. But should National Guard be responsible for providing medical care when the organization's job is to restore order? Should the civilian medics do this instead?

I am inclined to say that of course NG Medics should be responsible for initial care and transportation of victims. As a medic I couldn't just walk by a citizen and do nothing. However, i am not aware of the rules higher puts in place, but I do know the NG can be limited in what they can do with US citizens.

Opinions? Knowledge? I welcome it all.

Response by SPC Carl K. made Apr 28 at 2015 8:13 PM

SPC Carl K. — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 20:13:03 -0400

When I was active duty at Fort Hood with the 507th Medical Company, we provided medevac operations to civilians around the area often. It was a program with an acronym I can't remember at the moment. I would think that the NG would do the same if they are called up for an emergency like a riot or whatever as well. Obviously, those who are currently NG would have more valid and current information.

Response by SPC Richard White made Apr 28 at 2015 8:53 PM

SPC Richard White — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 20:53:34 -0400

The answer is yes.In any emergency the National Guard will provide any services that it can.Whether it be crowd control,traffic control,clearing debris, etc...

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Apr 28 at 2015 9:02 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 21:02:26 -0400

If it's a medical unit then most definitely yes. Depending on the type of unit and its assigned duties during the state of emergency, If medical personnel are not directly supporting the unit then why not?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2015 7:23 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 07:23:46 -0400

Actually, having been in a flight medic unit and a ground medic unit during state emergency's I can say that while we respond, we tend to do more evacuation than actual medical treatment. We treat the Soldiers who are injured or ill during these operations but as for civilians, there seems to always be a lot of hesitancy in allowing us to perform medical procedures on the civilians; liability, being sued, and risk due to different methods in treatment in general. Life or death, we may do what is necessary to sustain, but beyond that, I have often been shocked myself by what little medical care we are allowed to provide when we aren't deployed or on a military post. Even then, while in Garrison, your job and role is diminished significantly. Granted, the Army now sends flight medics to receive their official Paramedic certification, and that may have opened up
Some opportunity, but I, would still believe it would depend on receiving your state license and actively working in that role in the civilian sector; definitely something worth exploring as an additional effort and service to provide if the money is going to be spent mobilizing us.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2015 11:29 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 23:29:22 -0400

BLUF: Life, Limb, and eyesight emergency care of Soldiers only. No authority to transport in any capacity or to provide anything other than the immediate emergency care of the Soldier.

We are currently on State Active Duty call out for the potential flooding in South Texas. The State's medical proponent is the Office of the State Surgeon and as such sets the medical protocols, albeit overly vague and generalized, used by 68W personnel on SAD missions. On whole, 68W medical protocols in the NG is a whack-a-mole guessing game with little to no proponent understanding or support. Try to Google 68W protocols and you'll see my pain, zilch.

In Texas (I'd highly recommend searching your State's EMS code) patients*, both civilian and Soldier, cannot be transported in a vehicle that is not a State TDSHS (EMS) certified ambulance that is attended by a State certified EMT or higher qualified person. One could not fathom the endless IPRs I've attended having to answer the question, Why not? The answer is always, I intend to keep my credentials and for my medics to keep theirs. EMT vs. paramedic has no bearing on the argument. If fact, paramedics have more to lose. *A patient is anyone for whom a patient/provider relationship has been established. If you've rendered care as s NREMT then you've established that relationship and are subject to the laws of negligence and abandonment until you transfer patient care to an equally or higher qualified/credentialed provider.

Prehospital medical care is protocol driven and liability focused. All of our actions eventually rest upon a medical provider's license. Without home grown protocols that a licensed physician has signed off on and carries the liabilies for, the 68W is rendered an educated combat lifesaver at best. There's not one BDE Surgeon in the State of Texas that I know of who has created protocols for their medics; for garrison, AT, SAD missions, or otherwise. Yet if I render care to a civilian or Soldier in any duty status and the outcome is poor, who carries that liability? My paramedic license and years of EMS experience know better. When my license is revoked, so to is my Army career.

Ugh...sorry, I went into a diatribe.

Response by SN Dorance Gray made Jun 17 at 2015 12:47 PM

SN Dorance Gray — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 12:47:00 -0400

I was a paper maker also i was lic. ems-EMT in the guards i was a combat medic along with being asst ncoic of a battalion aide station so i think that we should be their for the troops

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 16 at 2016 1:22 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 01:22:25 -0400

When there is a traffic accident between Fort Irwin and Daggett, CA (35 mile stretch of road) the Army Blackhawks are coming to get you. It doesn't matter if you are a green suitor or not. I don't know if it is a handshake agreement between federal and state, how funds are recuperated, or even if it is 'legal' but the Army is going to save your butt. I've put many a body on a stretcher.

Response by Capt Andrew Pratt made Dec 7 at 2016 2:21 PM

Capt Andrew Pratt — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 14:21:49 -0500

Response by Matt Moon made Oct 9 at 2018 5:59 AM

Matt Moon — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 05:59:13 -0400

Both the National Guard & State Guard do a good job of providing medical support during a disaster.

Response by Matt Moon made Oct 9 at 2018 6:02 AM

Matt Moon — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 06:02:28 -0400

Yes there's the risk of being sued so you basically have to trust you're own judgment damn if you and damn if you don't if you do you take the risk of being sued if you don't you're blamed for not providing any medical support.