Accessing FEMA`s Responder Knowledge Base
Since 2003, FEMA’s Responder Knowledge Base (RKB) has become the emergency responder decision support tool with the purpose of providing first responders with access to information specifically related to their field.
With over 78,000 registered users consisting of first responders, emergency managers, government personnel, purchasers and planners, the RKB offers information on responder equipment, certifications, standards, training, grants and more.
Funded by the DHS FEMA National Preparedness Directorate (NPD), there is no cost to the user to access this information.
The RKB has many tools designed to help the EMS community. One of the newest features on the RKB is the Emergency Medical Services/Public Health Focus Area page, which enables EMS personnel to obtain information specifically related to their field. Need to find MSDF sheets? OSHA requirements? The RKB sorts this information into categories including products, safety notices, web links, conferences, standards, publications and references, training and education, and operational assessments.
EMS training information and education programs are also available on the RKB. Training & Education information is categorized by discipline and there are over 160 training and education programs listed for EMS. Training is either free or fee-based and can be filtered by training method. Education programs can be filtered by the program type or location. The Training & Education information can be located in the gray bar on the RKB homepage.
The RKB also offers additional resources that are deemed useful by the EMS community; these resources include:
- A publications section, a compendium of nearly 2,000 publications ranging from guidance documents and journal articles to EMS books
- DHS- and IAB-approved equipment standards; and
- Lessons Learned Information Sharing documents.
In addition, the RKB welcomes feedback and suggestions which can be submitted via the Provide Feedback option, located under the Help link. For additional information, e-mail the RKB at RKBMailbox@us.saic.com or call 877/336-2752.
