High consequence infectious diseases (HCID) don't come with a warning — but a strong, well-rehearsed response can make all the difference for patient and provider safety alike. This full-day, EMS-specific workshop from the Region 5 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC) team walks providers through the entire arc of an HCID response, from first recognition to safe transport and decontamination.

Through a blend of lecture, case study, and hands-on skills stations, participants will learn the structure of the National Special Pathogens System (NSPS) and how facility capability levels shape transport and referral decisions, then apply the Identify, Isolate, Inform framework to a real-world case scenario. The afternoon shifts to hands-on practice: proper PPE selection, donning/doffing, and breach management; wrapping a patient for transport; and modifying and cleaning an ambulance for HCID transport, including Category A waste management considerations.

Participants will leave with practical, field-ready skills for recognizing and safely managing a suspected HCID patient from first contact through transport — critical knowledge for any EMS provider who could find themselves first on scene when it matters most.