This year sees the tenth anniversary of the creation of the FBI's "medical agents," men and women that are not only agents, but are also cross-trained as emergency medical service personnel. Their job description not only includes your average FBI duties, but also the responsibility of resolving medical problems in hazardous places, such as hostage situations, armed robberies, or crimes against the United States overseas. Essentially, FBI medical agents work in places that your average paramedic has trouble gaining access to, or has trouble staying safe in once they arrive.
The FBI medical agent program was forged from two needs that arose in the 1990s. The first was to protect SWAT (FBI special weapons and tactics) teams, which approach a dangerous individual or situation by setting up a security area to protect the surrounding populace. But this also slows conventional emergency medical agencies within that restricted area, so in the early 1990s the FBI mandated that all SWAT teams have emergency medical capabilities.
The other need arose in the late 1990s, when terrorists bombed U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia and Nairobi. The events showed the FBI that they needed medical experience in dangerous environments, both domestically and abroad.
Today, there are over 250 FBI agents that are cross-trained as emergency medical personnel. But according to Dr. William Fabbri, the medical director of the emergency medical support program, almost all of these agents came in with medical training.
"The vast majority of operational medics bring expertise with them when they enter FBI," Fabbri said. "It takes a number of years for a paramedic to achieve a level of experience before they are able to operate at full potential in a civilian environment. Because of the remarkable qualities we see in people who apply for work at the FBI, we're very fortunate that a number of these people have previous experience in other technical fields. In fact, we have quite a few operational medicine personnel who worked previously for large EMS agencies, the military, fire departments, emergency medical nurses, and physician assistants. In one instance, we have FBI agent who was formally an emergency medical specialist like myself."
It's that background experience, along with additional FBI training, that allows medical agents to accomplish difficult tasks.
"I remember an incident that involved tech operators becoming injured during practice of an assault, and it occurred in fairly remote location," said Fabbri. "An FBI medical agent very rapidly and appropriately evaluated, treated and stabilized the patient, and flew to a trauma center in less than half an hour in a very demanding environment. I'm struck by fact that in the real world such a case almost never goes perfectly," Fabbri said.
In the almost ten years that FBI medical agents have been operational, they have had numerous successes taking care of both civilians and FBI employees trapped in dangerous situations around the world, and on a normal agent's salary. But what Fabbri, one of the creators of the program, is most proud of is the ability of medical agents to prevent dangerous health situations from occurring.
"I think that while it isn't very dramatic, I'm proud of the number of instances we have been able to prevent significant illnesses and injuries when FBI agents deploy to foreign locations," Fabbri said. "FBI medical agents ensure that water and food supplies are safe to consume, and they work with safety personnel in high hazard situations, such as investigations of hazardous crime scenes. They really have prevented people from becoming sick and injured. It's one of the most satisfying things I do."
Also Interesting:
[+] Think You Have What it Takes to be an FBI Agent?
[+] FBI using hyperlinks to catch child porn watchers
[+] FBI puts out the "help wanted" sign
[+] From the Bureau to the Boardroom: 30 Management Lessons from the FBI
[+] Spammers using FBI officials' names for email hoaxes
