Series VII. Emergency Medical Services, 1941-1944.

Containers:

Box 188-204

Extent:

Extent: 4.2 cubic feet (12 boxes).

Scope and content:

This series is housed in 12 boxes and is arranged alphabetically. This series includes sub-series for general correspondence, correspondence with localities, and subject files. The majority of the correspondence is with Edgar C. Harper, MD, Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Services, and Sarah R. Radcliffe, RN, Nurse Deputy of Emergency Medical Services and local civilian defense councils. These files may include incoming and outgoing correspondence, bulletins, circulars, forms, incident reports, instructions, memoranda, minutes, news clippings, notices, oaths, orders, plans, publications, questionnaires/surveys and reports. Topics include but are not limited to: Affiliated Hospital Units, appointments (Emergency Medical Officers and local Nurse Deputies), Army hotel hospitals, blood plasma, chemical warfare, emergency base hospitals, equipment and supplies, establishment of local units, evacuation of casualties, federal government, home nursing, hospitalization, medical field units, meetings, nursing aides, organization of EMS and nurse services, policies and procedures, recruitment of staff, and transportation.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was responsible for the organization and training of local emergency medical personnel, preparation of hospital facilities for providing medical services to casualties that may result from bombing or sabotage, evacuation of casualties, supplying blood plasma and other medical supplies and equipment, setting up emergency base hospitals, and furnishing medical teams to areas in distress. EMS was also responsible for the preparation of plans designed to prevent or alleviate any medical or public health hazards to which the civilian population may be exposed, and acted as liaison with federal agencies concerned with public health and medical care. EMS was led by Dr. I.C. Riggin, Chief Emergency Medical Services, Deputy Director E.C. Harper, Hospital Officer M.H. Coleman, and State Nurse Deputy Sarah R. Radcliffe, who assisted in providing nursing services for emergencies. Local EMS plans consisted of field casualty service, casualty receiving hospitals, ambulance transport, and emergency base hospitals to receive patients transferred from casualty receiving hospitals. Local Chiefs of Emergency Medical Services were appointed in localities and Emergency Medical Field Units organized personnel, transportation, medical and surgical equipment, casualty stations and first aid posts, decontamination stations, and rescue squads and stretcher teams.

Access and use

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