Ambulance Service Directors/Chiefs
A Guide of National Standards for a LODD
Dear Emergency Services Director/Chief:
The Wisconsin EMS Honor Guard Association was formed to provide a uniform statewide EMS Honor Guard for your department, the family, and fallen EMS providers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
We offer resources such as ceremonial support, logistical planning, and coordination assistance to ensure respectful honors. If the family requests a full honors funeral, we will work with the funeral home director and assist the family and your department in preparing to HONOR the fallen provider.
When a member of the EMS community has given their life in the performance of their duties, the EMS Community statewide wishes to show respect to the member and to the community they served, along with Law Enforcement and Fire Services. We will assist your department in organizing this task. The logistics to coordinate this type of funeral are overwhelming for anyone to plan who has not done this before; honors might be missed, and federal and state benefits left unclaimed.
Below you will find an Emergency Notification form: 'Employee Wishes' and the PSOB form. We encourage you to have all your employees complete and return these forms, so you can confidently honor their wishes and support their families. Keep these forms accessible and review them annually to ensure accuracy and preparedness.
You will also find the EMS Director's Guide, outlining key events to follow during such times. Feel free to modify it to best suit your department's needs, helping you feel more confident and prepared to manage these situations. Once the Honor Guard is notified, a representative will contact you to assist further.
We understand how tragic the loss of a colleague can be and want to assure you that we are here to support your department through this difficult time. Our training and resources are designed to help you navigate the overwhelming experience, so please get in touch with us promptly if such a tragedy occurs in your department.
Sincerely,
Craig Nelson, CCTP
Commander
Wisconsin EMS Honor Guard Association, Inc.
WI EMS Director/Chief Funeral Guidelines handbook
a. Employee Wishes form (update annually to keep on file)
b. First 24 hours checklist following a LODD
d. PSOB Beneficiary designee form (update annually)
e. PSOB Benefits Information