Current Grant Projects

Derailed Train

Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) Grant - RailSafe Wisconsin

 

The Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services Association (WEMSA) is excited to announce the RailSafe Wisconsin project, a new initiative funded by the ALERT grant, aimed at bolstering the hazmat response capabilities of EMS professionals and emergency responders across Wisconsin. This project addresses the critical need for specialized training in handling hazardous materials incidents, particularly those involving flammable liquids transported by rail.

Project Overview

Wisconsin's extensive rail network poses unique risks, especially in rural and underserved areas where access to specialized training is limited. RailSafe Wisconsin seeks to bridge this gap by delivering comprehensive, accessible, and tailored training to enhance emergency response capabilities and ensure the safety of both responders and the public.

Training Details

The training will kick off with a specialized session at the WEMSA 2025 Annual Conference, where attendees will participate in hands-on training led by experts in hazardous materials response. To extend our reach beyond the conference, WEMSA will also host several local trainings across the state. These sessions will focus on rural locations, ensuring that emergency responders who are unable to attend the conference have access to essential training.

WEMSA Learning Portal

Recognizing the diverse needs and schedules of EMS professionals, WEMSA will enhance training accessibility by offering recordings of these sessions through our online WEMSA Learning Portal. This platform will allow emergency responders from all regions of Wisconsin to engage with the training at their convenience, ensuring widespread access to critical knowledge and skills.

If you have interest in becoming an instructor for our training program or would like to receive further information as the training is released, e-mail us at wemsa@wisconsinems.com

Medical Technology

FEMA Data Center Grant Project: Enhancing Data Resilience for Wisconsin EMS Departments

 

The Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services Association (WEMSA) is proud to manage the FEMA Data Center Grant project, an initiative that significantly strengthens the data security and management capabilities of EMS departments across Wisconsin. In collaboration with the Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), WEMSA is constructing a state-of-the-art cloud storage facility at our headquarters in Wind Lake. This facility is designed to provide robust data protection, ensuring EMS departments maintain critical operational and patient data securely and efficiently.

Project Objectives:

  • Enhanced Data Security: The cloud storage facility will serve as a vital resource for EMS departments to store sensitive information, such as HIPAA data, personnel records, and operational protocols, safeguarding against data loss due to environmental disasters or cyber threats like ransomware.
  • Increased Data Compliance: By offering this storage solution at no cost to EMS departments, we aim to assist in achieving proper data compliance and implementing robust data storage policies across the state.
  • Statewide Accessibility: Over the next six months, WEMSA will work diligently to onboard EMS departments, providing them access to this centralized data storage to enhance their resiliency and operational readiness.

Benefits:

This project not only mitigates the risk of economic disruption and data loss from environmental hazards but also bolsters the overall hazard mitigation planning for EMS data management. The data center will feature:

  • Advanced Training Facilities: To support EMS departments in understanding and managing cyber security risks effectively.
  • Resilient Infrastructure: Including a dedicated fiber line and backup power solutions to ensure a 99% guaranteed uptime.

Located at 26422 Oakridge Dr, Wind Lake, WI, this medium-scale data center will be a cornerstone of Wisconsin’s public safety infrastructure, providing a reliable secondary backup and quick recovery solution for EMS departments in the event of a disaster. WEMSA will be reaching out to member departments in the coming months to begin onboarding for the data center!
 

Rescue to Recovery: Organ Donation Education for EMS Providers

 

In partnership with Donate Life Wisconsin, the WEMSA Foundation is launching "Rescue to Recovery," a pivotal initiative aimed at boosting organ donation awareness among EMS professionals and the wider community. This program seeks to bridge the knowledge gap in organ, tissue, and ligament donation through comprehensive educational resources, establishing statewide standardized protocols, and engaging community outreach efforts. By empowering our EMS professionals with the right tools and knowledge, we aim to enhance the organ donation process, making a meaningful impact on lives across Wisconsin.
 


Responder Ready

Responder Ready is an innovative training program designed to empower event staff, volunteers, sports teams, clubs and more with critical emergency response skills. This education platform offers on-demand, self-paced training videos covering a range of scenarios from allergic reactions to incident response. Event hosts, team captains, and organizers can easily assign education tasks and track the progress of their team. This comprehensive approach ensures that community members, staff and volunteers are well-prepared to handle emergencies, making events safer for everyone involved.