Name
When Nature Calls-EMS After Hurricanes in U.S. Virgin Islands
Description
When Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck the U.S. Virgin Islands with the devastation of a Category 5 storm, critical infrastructure was damaged. Through an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (E.M.A.C.) request from the U.S. Virgin Islands, the New Jersey EMS Task Force was able to deploy a contingent of highly-trained EMTs and paramedics as well as a fleet of all-terrain ambulances to assist in the recovery efforts. You will learn how you can utilize your education, training, skills, and expertise to function in an austere environment with minimal resources and a challenging environment. We will discuss how lessons learned in this E.M.A.C. deployment can be applied to other planned or unplanned incidents and disaster management as it pertains to EMS. You will learn how applying principles of tactical paramedicine can be applied to routine responses in any EMS system.
NYS CME: All Levels - Non-Core Additional
Speakers
Les Polk, University Hospital EMSManager, Community Training CenterLes Polk has worked in EMS for over 20 years. He has served as an EMT, Paramedic, and leader in EMS organizations in NY, NJ, and PA. He currently serves as the Manager of the Community Training Center at University Hospital EMS in Newark, NJ. He has received an Associate’s in Applied Science degree from Union County College in Plainfield, NJ and completed his paramedic education at the Freda and Robert N. Brown Paramedic Program with clinical sponsorship from RWJBH. He has received a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Science with a concentration in Biology and a minor in Music from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. He completed Graduate Coursework in Biomedical Sciences from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has received a Master of Science in Health Science Degree from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. concentrating in EMS Leadership. He is a Six Sigma Black Belt and a Fellow of the American College of Paramedic Executives as well as a Certified Instructor Coordinator and NJ EMT Instructor.
Date & Time
Saturday, November 14, 2026, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
