A National Model for Tactical Emergency Medical Support in Finland

Abstract

Introduction:

Tactical Emergency Medical Response (TEMS) originated in the 1990s in Finland. It is a nationally standardized joint-effort with EMS and police special units, such as SWAT.

Aim:

To describe a national system of TEMS in Finland.

Methods:

In Finland, TEMS is a national response system of specially trained paramedics and pre-hospital doctors, working normally in HEMS or a local physician staffed rapid response car. There is a two-tier selection to get accepted in the basic course. The police run background checks for all participants before they are accepted to the course. The course itself is four days and it covers the basics of police tactics, protective gear, penetrating wounds, evacuation, etc. After graduating from the basic course, the paramedic/doctor is qualified to participate in missions. Although healthcare professionals are involved, a TEMS mission is under the police command and is used as one of the police’s special teams to operate in areas where normal EMS cannot be allowed for safety reasons. TEMS does not carry any weapons. The Police provide the teams with the same protective equipment that the SWAT/CTU has. After some years, there is a three-day refresher course for active TEMS service. In this course, the main training points are working in austere environments, such as helicopters, boats, and in urban environments wearing civilian clothing. Police pay for the usage of TEMS in missions, but they do not pay for training days.

Results:

TEMS has good national coverage. In 2017, there were 131 TEMS activations. The normal response to a mission is a team of one or two TEMS operators.

Discussion:

TEMS has achieved good national coverage and is deployed often. TEMS has also channeled information and training, such as TECC, to normal EMS personnel and raised their preparedness as well.