ERHMS

Post-Event Tracking of Emergency Responder Health and Function

Purpose

The goal isto identify adverse health orfunctional consequences potentially associatedwith responsework and to intervene early tomaximize the chancesforrecovery and to stop further exposure forworkersremaining on-scene.Acritical 

function ofthe Emergency ResponderHealthMonitoring and Surveillance (ERHMS)systemisto provide the data necessary to determinewhetherfurtherresponder health tracking iswarranted and ifso,whattype oftracking would bemost 

appropriate.

Principles of Post-Event Tracking of Emergency Responder Health and Function

The data from the pre- and during-event portions of ERHMS can be organized into three basic areas of analysis to assist 

the post-event tracking decision:

1. Evaluation of hazardous exposures, incidents, and activities.

2. Evaluation of adequacy of control strategies.

3. Epidemiologic reviewofinjuries, illnesses, andmental health or performance problems among responders during 

the event.
ERHMS

Identifying and tracking responders

Constructing a Post-Event Monitoring or Surveillance Protocol

The monitoring protocol should be 

designed to:

• Conduct early intervention.

• Identify unique symptoms 

and/or signs that may be 

related to incident exposures.

• Describe disease rates, 

trends, and exposure-health 

outcome relationships.

• Inform future emergency 

preparedness and response 

activities.

Content of a Post-Event Monitoring and Surveillance Protocol

The monitoring protocol should:

• Obtain relevant clinical and 

exposurehistoriesthrougha 

medical encounter.

• Perform the appropriate 

clinical exam(s) and medical 

tests.

• Provide the worker with an 

explanation of findings and 

appropriate referrals when 

there is a need for treatment 

or follow-up.

Implementation of a Post-Event 

Monitoring andSurveillanceProtocol

Considerations:

• Should be closely tied with 

information management.

• A licensed clinician is needed 

to oversee the screening 

instruments.

• Data management must 

conform to recognized 

standards of acceptability, 

reproducibility,calibration, 

and technician certification.

ERHMS

The ERHMS systemis a healthmonitoring and surveillance framework thatincludesrecommendations and toolsspecific 

to protect emergency responders during the pre-deployment, deployment, and post-deployment phases of a disaster. 

The intent of ERHMS isto identify exposures and/orsigns and symptoms early in the course of an emergency response 

in orderto prevent ormitigate adverse physical and psychological outcomes and ensureworkersmaintain their ability to

respond effectively and are not harmed in the course ofthisresponse work. Data will also help to identify during the

post- deployment phase which responders would benefitfrommedicalreferral and possible enrollmentin a long-term

health surveillanceprogram.PleaserefertoChapter 10 andsection10Tformore informationonPost-EventTrackingof

EmergencyResponderHealth and Function.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ERHMS Contact:

 erhmsonline@cdc.gov

For more information on ERHMS, please visit: 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/erhms