Mounted search and rescue

[Edususan@aol.com]

good points.
also, a mild corrrection (more a modification).  ems does not have national standards except at the paramedic level.  while there is a national registry for emt's, the training varies widely from state to state, and past efforts to have states get on the same page accept each other backfired. they have gone the other way.  there is very little reciprocity in licensure anymore because the states have put into the curricula and scopes of practice what THEY need from a provider, and in some cases it is light  years apart.  kind of like florida swamp vs. colorado high country in terms of gear, training, etc.  but in terms of some core material, they all agree, and certainly all agree on NIMS.  but if you are an EMT in New Jersey you can't practice in New Mexico as an EMT.  Just a point of clarification.  Similar problems surfaced with the National Ski Patrol.  They tried to create and be "the standard" and since needs of the ski areas varied so widely, many simply initiated their own training scheme, Again, what works in North Carolina doesn't work in Taos and the Taos patroller who can do a needle decompression on a mountain would likely seem dangerous and cavalier in North Carolina.  Some theory holds true with horse "requirements".  What you do in Mississippi could get you killed in Tuscon and vice versa.  Only a point of discussion her, not trying to be the expert.  Susan  (EMS Faculty, University of New Mexico).