• 8:00 am - 9:00 am: Case Review - Phillip Barquer

  The Smokehouse Creek Wildfire was a defining event in wildland emergency response, presenting unique challenges in medical support for firefighters and displaced communities. This case study examines the multidisciplinary response to the wildfire, which consumed over 1 million acres in under five days. The incident’s rapid escalation due to extreme weather conditions, rugged terrain, and resource constraints tested the capabilities of local emergency medical services (EMS) and highlighted critical areas for improvement.

  This presentation will explore the deployment and integration of medical resources during the incident, focusing on the collaboration between Austin-Travis County EMS and local, regional, and state agencies. Key points include the establishment of medical staging areas in remote zones, managing injuries, and addressing the logistical hurdles of prolonged field operations with an incident that crossed state lines. A significant component of this case study is the innovative use of Wildland Paramedic Units and portable internet technology for situational awareness and medical supply delivery.

  Lessons learned from Smokehouse Creek emphasize the importance of pre-incident training tailored to wildland scenarios, including triage under austere conditions and the ability of responders to treat patients for a prolonged time. Additionally, this case study underscores the necessity of adaptive planning in the face of rapidly changing fire behavior and environmental hazards.

• 9:00 am - 9:30 am: Psychological First Aid - Nick Arnett

  Resilience and Psychological First Aid: Practical ways to avoid burnout while also supporting co-workers and the public. This course is based on the instructor's 20 years of experience with the Bay Area Crisis Response Team, the USFS CISM program, Cal Fire's Employee Support Services, and more than 1,000 crisis intervention responses. It will describe the physical, social, and spiritual sources of stress and renewal, along with basic principles of using Psychological First Aid for individuals and small groups.

• 10:30 am - 12:00 pm: Breakouts

  2a - Vendor Walk

  2b - MedL Round Table, various Med L

  2c - REMS Standards, John Meyer

  2d - UTV Use and Maintenance

• 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Lunch

• 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm: Skills 1 - Patient Packaging - John Meyer

• 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm: Skills 2 - Advanced Airways - Blaze Amodei

• 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Skills 3 - Tourniquet Conversions - Michael Piet

• 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm: Skills 4 - Reductions / Splinting - Dr. Woody Peeples

• 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm: Closing Thoughts