Team Background
The Special Medical Response Team (SMRT) was incorporated in 1984 after the Helen Mine Fire to meet a need for the provision of advanced medicine during emergency operations in the deep mines of Pennsylvania. The original concept was developed by Dr. Richard Kunkle of Latrobe Area Hospital, Walter Vicenelli of the Bureau of Deep Mine Safety, and Danny Sacco of Citizens' Ambulance Service. Initial funding was obtained from the Bureau of Deep Mine Safety for the purchase of the necessary equipment and training of the SMRT personnel. The Special Medical Response Team was comprised of volunteer physicians, paramedics and EMT’s and has responded to numerous mining and industrial emergencies within Pennsylvania.
It soon became evident that the lessons and medical procedures learned and developed for the confined spaces of the deep mine industry in Western Pennsylvania could be adapted for other emergencies such as structural collapses. In July 1988 at the request of the United States Congressman Solomon Ortiz, the Special Medical Response Team responded to a structural collapse in Brownsville, Texas and assisted local emergency responders with the search and recovery of victims trapped by the rubble. Shortly after the Brownsville response SMRT was designated as the medical component of the United States Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance International Urban Search and Rescue Team and in July 1990 responded to the earthquake in the Philippine Islands along with the Fairfax Virginia Fire Department.
With the formation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) system, SMRT began to work with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the other interested response organizations in Pennsylvania to develop an Urban Search and Rescue Task Force. The SMRT personnel made up a majority of the medical component of Pennsylvania USAR Task Force 1 and SMRT provides part of the medical equipment cache for deployment of the task force.
In 1991 SMRT was awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to research and write the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Medical Team Training Curriculum. The USAR Medical Training Course was completed one year later and SMRT personnel began to instruct other adjunct instructors from the 25 FEMA USAR Task Forces. SMRT personnel continue to serve as instructors at FEMA USAR medical courses throughout the nation.
SMRT identified the need for expansion of its capabilities and reorganized its structure. The team shifted from its focused membership of physicians and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and began recruiting members for an all-inclusive organization. Currently, the membership has broadened to include:
-Physicians: Emergency department, general practices, and specialty
-Nurse Practioner
-Registered Nurses
-Licensed Practical Nurse
-Paramedics
-Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs)
-Communications Support
-Logistics Support
-Administrative Support
SMRT was also designated as a specialized crush injury Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT PA-2) by the Public Health Service and has responded to the Atlanta Olympics and the recent blizzards in up state New York. In the history as PA-2, the team served under the administration of FEMA and then Department of Health and Human Services until its recent declassification due to removal of all specialized teams.
The Special Medical Response Team maintains a contract with the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Deep Mine Safety to provide medical backup for deep mine rescue operations and is prepared to respond to any mining accident within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
SMRT has also formed a tactical medical response capability to provide advanced medical backup to the Indiana County District Attorney’s Office during high risk law enforcement operations. Additionally, the SMRT Tactical Medical Component has entered into an agreement with the local FBI regional field office to provide tactical medical backup for high risk FBI operations.
In 2006, the Special Medical Response Team began a contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Health Office of Public Health Preparedness (OPHP) as one of three State Medical Response Teams with the identifier of Indiana SMRT. Since then, SMRT has maintained the contract and has recently moved to the assignment of S-MAT 1. As S-MAT 1, the team assists the Commonwealth's emergency responders in the event of public health emergencies.
It soon became evident that the lessons and medical procedures learned and developed for the confined spaces of the deep mine industry in Western Pennsylvania could be adapted for other emergencies such as structural collapses. In July 1988 at the request of the United States Congressman Solomon Ortiz, the Special Medical Response Team responded to a structural collapse in Brownsville, Texas and assisted local emergency responders with the search and recovery of victims trapped by the rubble. Shortly after the Brownsville response SMRT was designated as the medical component of the United States Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance International Urban Search and Rescue Team and in July 1990 responded to the earthquake in the Philippine Islands along with the Fairfax Virginia Fire Department.
With the formation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) system, SMRT began to work with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the other interested response organizations in Pennsylvania to develop an Urban Search and Rescue Task Force. The SMRT personnel made up a majority of the medical component of Pennsylvania USAR Task Force 1 and SMRT provides part of the medical equipment cache for deployment of the task force.
In 1991 SMRT was awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to research and write the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Medical Team Training Curriculum. The USAR Medical Training Course was completed one year later and SMRT personnel began to instruct other adjunct instructors from the 25 FEMA USAR Task Forces. SMRT personnel continue to serve as instructors at FEMA USAR medical courses throughout the nation.
SMRT identified the need for expansion of its capabilities and reorganized its structure. The team shifted from its focused membership of physicians and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and began recruiting members for an all-inclusive organization. Currently, the membership has broadened to include:
-Physicians: Emergency department, general practices, and specialty
-Nurse Practioner
-Registered Nurses
-Licensed Practical Nurse
-Paramedics
-Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs)
-Communications Support
-Logistics Support
-Administrative Support
SMRT was also designated as a specialized crush injury Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT PA-2) by the Public Health Service and has responded to the Atlanta Olympics and the recent blizzards in up state New York. In the history as PA-2, the team served under the administration of FEMA and then Department of Health and Human Services until its recent declassification due to removal of all specialized teams.
The Special Medical Response Team maintains a contract with the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Deep Mine Safety to provide medical backup for deep mine rescue operations and is prepared to respond to any mining accident within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
SMRT has also formed a tactical medical response capability to provide advanced medical backup to the Indiana County District Attorney’s Office during high risk law enforcement operations. Additionally, the SMRT Tactical Medical Component has entered into an agreement with the local FBI regional field office to provide tactical medical backup for high risk FBI operations.
In 2006, the Special Medical Response Team began a contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Health Office of Public Health Preparedness (OPHP) as one of three State Medical Response Teams with the identifier of Indiana SMRT. Since then, SMRT has maintained the contract and has recently moved to the assignment of S-MAT 1. As S-MAT 1, the team assists the Commonwealth's emergency responders in the event of public health emergencies.