Skip to main content

RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)

RT-130 Decorative banner. Group of photos depicting wildland firefighters performing various duties.

Emergency Medical Care Guidelines

Wildland firefighters perform dangerous work in remote locations. At a minimum, all are trained in basic first aid. Regardless of level of medical training, all firefighters must be equipped to respond to a medical emergency. Review Emergency Medical Care Guidelines and other useful references in the IRPG Emergency Medical Care pages to better prepare yourself for a potential medical incident.
Category: Medical
Core Component(s):
Fire and Aviation Operational Safety
Estimated Delivery Time: 30 minutes
Video Length: 11:54

Intent

Wildland firefighters perform dangerous work in remote locations. At a minimum, all are trained in basic first aid. Regardless of level of medical training, all firefighters must be equipped to respond to a medical emergency. Review the Emergency Medical Care Guidelines and other useful references in the Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, in the Emergency Medical Care section (red) to better prepare yourself for a potential medical incident.

Facilitator Preparation

  • Review the video and module tools.
  • Reference the Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461. Provide copies of the IRPG for students to utilize and answer questions.
  • Consider additional activities and discussion questions pertinent to the location and agency.

Facilitating the Discussion

  • Share the intent of the module with the class.
  • Show the video.
  • Facilitate a small or large group discussion using discussion questions and the IRPG.

Discussion Questions

  1. Locate and review the Emergency Medical Care Guidelines in the IRPG. Identify one take-away message from each section (Legality, Blood-Borne Pathogens, Treatment Principles, and Medical Response Procedures).
  2. Locate and review additional IRPG references that may be applicable during a medical incident. Identify how the following resources in the Emergency Medical Care section may be used:
    1. Patient Assessment, Specific Treatments, CPR, and Medical Incident Report (MIR)
    2. Refer to 6 Minutes for Safety’s Serious Injuries Procedures to support discussion.
  3. How does your module deal with emergency medical situations? 
    1. Discuss how this plan may differ during project work, wildfire response, or physical training?
    2. What critical roles may be needed during an incident within an incident (medical incident commander, primary medical personnel, scribe, radio communicator, etc.)?
    3. What transport options are available in your area (i.e., agency vehicle, ground ambulance, agency ship, hoist ship, short-haul extraction, etc.)?
    4. Refer to related WFSTAR modules (Incident within an Incident, Preparing for Wildfire Medevac, and Short-Haul Medevac Exercise) to support discussion.
  4. Review how your module communicates using handheld and mobile radios. 
    1. What specific channels should be used during a medical incident (dispatch, ICP command, air-to-ground, etc.)?
    2. Reference the Medical Plan (ICS 206 WF) and discuss how to communicate critical medical information.
  5. What medical gear do you have on your module? 
    1. Where is it located? 
    2. How does your crew practice use of medical equipment throughout the fire season?
    3. How does your module ensure maintenance of medical equipment and medications (AED batteries, oxygen tanks, expiration dates for medications, etc.)?

Resources

Additional Video Information

  • This video is also available as a download (Size 1.3 GB) with .srt file for closed captioning (you may need to right click and Save As). For information on how to add closed captioning to a video, see this how to page.
  • Note: For Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, right click the word download and select Save Link As; for IE, right click and select Save Target As.

Last Modified / Reviewed:

Please Provide Feedback

NWCG values your constructive input and we thank you for taking the time to provide feedback.

Although contact information is optional, we hope that you provide a way for us to contact you in case we need clarification on your comment. If you would like to be contacted regarding your feedback, you must provide contact information. 

Would you like a response?
If you would like a response, you must provide contact information (name and email) below.
One file only.
9.28 GB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png, bmp, eps, tif, pict, psd, txt, rtf, html, odf, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, xml, avi, mov, mp3, mp4, ogg, wav, bz2, dmg, gz, jar, rar, sit, svg, tar, zip.

NWCG Latest Announcements

WFSTAR 2025 Core Component Module Package and 2024 Fire Year in Review Now Available

Date: March 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Joe Schindel at mschindel@blm.gov
 

The 2025 Core Component Module Package for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) and the 2024 Fire Year in Review are now available on the NWCG website. The 2025 Core Component Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

References:

2025 Core Component Module Package

2024 Fire Year in Review Module

NEW! NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053

Date: March 12, 2025
Contact: Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Committee

The NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053 provides mitigation practitioners at all experience levels with recommendations on the most effective and efficient ways to accomplish mitigation work in communities at risk to wildfire damage or destruction. The content in this guide was written in coordination with the NWCG Standards for Mitigation in the Wildland Urban Interface, PMS 052.

References:

NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053 

Updated, NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Date: March 11, 2025
Contact: Fire Use Subcommittee
Wildland Fire Module Unit

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430 standardizes procedures and expectations for Wildland Fire Modules (WFMs). These standards are to be used by staff, supervisors, specialists, and technicians for planning, administering, and conducting WFM operations. These standards will also be used as a measure of WFM qualifications, capabilities, and expected performance, for both Type 1 and Type 2 WFMs.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

NEW! NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Date: March 7, 2025
Contact: National Interagency Aviation Committee

The NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating airtankers on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508, and any applicable agency plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514