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The Special Operations department, composed of several specialized units, is responsible for nontraditional emergency medical services as described below.
Our Special Operations department is undergoing significant development at the time. This page will be continually updated as the department grows and programs are implemented.
Bicycle Unit
The Bicycle Unit has been used with URI EMS on and off through the years for most of our existence. The Unit used personal equipment and did not have any specialized training. Currently under development is a proposal to bring specialized department-owned bicycles/equipment and EMS bicycle response training to professionalize the Unit.
Team membership is open to all department Members.
Fire Rehabilitation Unit
The Unit oversees the training and guidelines for the provision of EMS services at fire scenes, particularly in regards to treating firefighters but also to treat victims of fire. All supervisors are trained to oversee the provision of fire rehabilitation services using national standards and guidelines for firefighter monitoring. When responding to a fire, URI EMS will respond with water, gatorade for rehydration and multiple-patient oxygen delivery devices, among other specialized equipment.
Fire Rehab services are offerred regionally upon request. URI EMS responded to a major structure fire in Charlestown on July 4, 2007 to assist Charlestown Ambulance in providing rehab services to well over 80 firefighters as their resources were overwhelmed. URI EMS also provided rehab services to Westerly Ambulance in the summer of 2007 for a structure fire at the Bradford Dye Association and in early 2007 for a house fire near campus on French Rd.
The Fire Rehabilitation Unit is an administrative unit responsible for maintaining training and response guidelines. All members undergo training in fire rehabilitation services.
