Disaster Medical Assistance Team
 It's
Friday night and Rhode Island Hospital's Tom Lawrence, EMT-P, is packing
his overnight bag for a brief getaway. Looking forward to a change of pace
and an opportunity to rough it with some colleagues, he's enthusiastic
about the weekend.
Lawrence, program director of Rhode Island emergency medical services
for children at Hasbro Children's Hospital, will work even harder for the
next few days than he has all week. This is a call to action of the Rhode
Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team-commonly referred to as RI-1
DMAT-and Lawrence is the team's deputy commander.
Of the 67 DMATs in the United States, the Rhode Island team, sponsored
by Rhode Island Hospital, is one of only 21 that have attained the highest
possible level. The teams were first formed in 1990 to handle what were
expected to be large numbers of casualties during the Gulf War. The RI-1
DMAT is made up of about 150 paramedics, nurses, physicians, electricians,
carpenters, plumbers and other volunteers who can set up a field hospital
within 24 hours of being called to action. When the team is activated, 35
members report to a site and must be completely self-supporting there for
three days.
As deputy commander, Lawrence works shoulder to shoulder with unit
commander Selim Suner, MD, attending physician in RIH's department of
emergency medicine. Suner has been with the team for several years-he
was a paramedic before he became a physician-and has been the commander
for the past year. In addition to leading the DMAT, Suner is developing a
training curriculum for its members to familiarize them with the logistics
of working in a "make-do" environment.
Sometimes the team is in the news, such as when they were activated
during the recovery of the EgyptAir jet in 2005 and during the ice storm
that crippled New York State during the winter of 1998. But most of the
time they are called in as a precaution, whether during the annual air
show, this year's Tall Ships visit, the Gravity Games, and any event in
which large crowds make the need for medical attention a strong
possibility or increase the likelihood of an act of terrorism. "We
see everything," Lawrence says, "from heat stroke to small
wounds to trauma and cardiac cases." The team is likened to a modern
MASH unit, except that it does not perform surgery. "It's rewarding,
obviously, but it's also fun," adds Lawrence. "We have big toys,
a lot of great equipment."
When the federal government activates the team, members become
government employees for the period of the activation. During that period
they are paid and their employers can be reimbursed by the government for
the cost incurred for replacements. On training exercises and for local
deployments, the team members are volunteers.
The team is very short on nurses and doctors and is actively
recruiting. Lawrence is also looking for people who can help set up,
organize paperwork and assist with various logistical tasks. "There's
no requirement to spend a specified period of time," he says.
"We'll take any time at all from anyone who wants to
participate." For more information or to volunteer, visit the team
Web site and call Tom Lawrence at 401-444-8210.
More about emergency services at Rhode Island Hospital
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