A DMAT team is responsible for the triage and stabilization of patients at a disaster site and provides basic medical services at transfer points and during transportation to definitive care.

When teams are deployed to a disaster site, they bring with them all the necessary medical supplies, equipment, food, water and housing required to support and operate the team for a minimum of three days.  For longer periods the team depends upon the support of the National Disaster Medical System to resupply the them. The team is also prepared to live and work from tents and have learned the art of field living through their drills and exercises.  Team members bring with them a wide diversity of knowledge and abilities in the medical and logistics fields.

The Need
The team represents that which is good in the Miami Valley in our desire to help during disaster situations. We have been challenged to assist when these disasters strike.

We need quality personnel. Doctors, PAs, Nurses, EMTs, Paramedics, Lab Techs, Pharmacist, Respiratory and other medical members are greatly needed. However, we need more than just medical staff. We also have a need for communicators, electricians, logistics techs, drivers, secretaries, and the list goes on. Almost anyone may join the team and can assist if they desire and if they are 21 years or older.

The team sets up their tent in Biloxi Mississippi in response to hurricane Katrina, 2005.

Not only do we have the need for many to deploy to disasters, but we also have the need of those who can assist with logistics here at home.

Basic Concepts
The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) under which DMAT teams operate,  is part of the Department of Health and Human Services as of January 1, 2007.

Supporting agencies historically have included the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Transportation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with the DHHS supplying direct management and support functions for NDMS.  Also important are the State and local governments, as well as the private sector which support the teams.

NDMS responds as part of the National Response Plan's, Emergency Support Function 8 (ESF-8) medical response mandate.  For more information on the National Response Plan Click Here.

The Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association serves as the designated local sponsor for the Dayton Area DMAT. As such, GDAHA undertakes a major coordinating role to facilitate the organization by the recruitment, training and equipping of its members.

Team members are hired as intermittant federal employees with pay and statutory liability exemption during activations of the DMAT for national emergencies.  Team members perform functions nationally based upon their state's certification authorization.  As an example, a Physicians Assistant in some states may be allowed to suture while in other states Physician Assistants are not. What ever their state allows is what a DMAT member is allowed to do nationally under NDMS.

With the passing of the "National Preparedness for Bioterrorism and other Public Health Emergencies" act in June of 2002, DMAT members are now given the same job and employment protection as any "uniformed service" member when they are called to service.  Unlike the military reserves and national guard branches, DMAT members do not have to accept a call to deploy when given, should personal needs warrant.  However, by joining the DMAT organization, each member has thus affirmed that it is their desire and intention to serve whenever possible.

Facing The Challenge
DMATs are vital to local, state and national medical response efforts. It was with this rational that the Dayton Area DMAT program was started and pushed forward. With the hard work of its members, federal funding and the generosity of many area businesses and organizations, the team has developed its equipment, skill and expertise. It continues to develop and improve its capabilities so that they can be of maximum service to victims of disaster.

Coordinating Sponsor
The Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association (GDAHA) is our local team coordinating sponsor.  The team wishes to thank the members of GDAHA that chose to help fund the OH-5 DMAT team during its development phase.

Contributors
  Support has also been provided to the Dayton DMAT team in addition to the sponsorship of GDAHA.  Below are listed some of these contributors to the Dayton DMAT team.  Their additional support has added in a substantial way to the successful development of the team in its formative years, and we thank them.