The George Washington University has been awarded a grant from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop research, education, and policy on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in America’s largest cities. A large survey tool has been developed to quantify the EMS preparedness levels of the largest cities in America. In conjunction with the research two EMS policy summits will be held with the EMS Operational Chiefs, Directors, and Administrators of the large cities in America to discuss areas that need significant policy development for response to large scale incidents. These two summits will provide recommendations to the Department of Homeland Security. The educational learning tool will train Emergency Medical Service providers and related public health, emergency management, public safety and hospital based medical personnel on how to respond to a variety of terrorist attacks, including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive events.

"This is about the more than 900,000 EMTs and Paramedics on America's front-lines charged with the awesome responsibility of turning victims into patients," said Frank Cilluffo, HSPI director and Associate Vice President of Homeland Security. "We want to make sure emergency personnel have the tools they need." “For the first time in the history of EMS, we will bring together the EMS operational leaders from America’s largest cities to discuss substantive issues that affect the ability of EMS to respond to large scale events,” said Gregg Lord, Co-Investigator and Director of EMS Policy for the National EMS Preparedness Initiative. "This latest project shows that George Washington University remains a valued partner in preparedness and emergency response," said Edward Reiskin, the District of Columbia's Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice.

"I think this project really plays to George Washington University’s strengths," said Dr. Jean Johnson, senior associate dean for Health Sciences, who is also senior project adviser on the grant.