Mobile Medical Units (MMU)

Every large incident needs a place where responders go when they're hurt or sick. On wildfires that place is the Mobile Medical Unit (MMU), formerly called the Medical Support Trailer (MST). It gives medical assessment and treatment to incident personnel on expanded incidents that need significant medical support, and can also support infectious disease mitigation, limited point-of-care testing and limited urgent care, as state medical rules and medical direction allow.

An MMU may be a trailer, tent, RV or similar enclosed structure suited to patient privacy and care; the trailer is the most common. It is typed by level of care. Type 1 is independent-practitioner care with prescription capability, led by an RN working under physician orders, a nurse practitioner, a physician assistant or a physician, working with paramedics or EMTs. Type 2 is ALS care, staffed by paramedics and EMTs. Type 3 is BLS care with an AED, staffed by EMTs and paramedics. Every type needs medical oversight by a licensed physician, and the incident's Medical Unit Leader (MEDL) decides which type it needs, based on how far the nearest pharmacy, clinic and hospital are and what they can do.

KDT brings the unit fully self-sufficient: generator and fuel, water for the unit as needed, climate control, stocked medical supplies, ALS or BLS equipment for its type, qualified staff and a 4x4 vehicle, enough for 48 hours before resupply. On other incidents, KDT can also set up a simpler first aid station for a staging area or work site.