Division Teams

Beyond the Ambulance

Emergency Medical Services extends far beyond responding to 911 calls. Through a variety of specialty teams, Sussex County EMS enhances patient care, supports large public events, responds to complex incidents, strengthens partnerships with allied agencies, and advances the profession through specialized training and community outreach.

Participation on a specialty team is voluntary and requires a significant commitment beyond a paramedic’s regular 24/72 schedule. Team members dedicate countless hours to advanced training, nationally recognized certifications, continuing education, and operational readiness, demonstrating the professionalism, commitment, and passion that define Sussex County EMS.

Bike Team

The Sussex County EMS Bicycle Response Team provides rapid medical response in areas where traditional ambulances have limited access or where large crowds make vehicle movement difficult. Team members are certified through the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA), the nationally recognized standard for public safety bicycle operations. This certification ensures providers are trained not only in bicycle handling skills but also in patient care, emergency response, crowd navigation, and operational safety.

Bike medics are deployed to many of Sussex County’s largest community events, including the Sea Witch Festival, Independence Day celebrations, road races, parades, concerts, and other special events where immediate access to patients is essential. Their mobility allows them to reach emergencies quickly, begin patient care sooner, and determine whether additional EMS resources are required, improving both patient outcomes and event safety.

Competition Team

Excellence is earned through preparation. The Sussex County EMS Competition Team represents the department at regional and national EMS competitions, testing clinical knowledge, leadership, teamwork, and decision-making against many of the most progressive EMS agencies in the United States.

Competitive scenarios challenge participants with complex, realistic emergencies where every assessment, intervention, and decision is evaluated by experienced judges. Team members spend countless hours outside of work practicing protocols, refining technical skills, and reviewing clinical evidence to perform at the highest level.

Sussex County EMS has established itself as one of the nation’s premier EMS competition programs, earning more medals at the JEMS Games than any other EMS agency in the history of the competition. Selection to the team is highly competitive and reflects an exceptional commitment to professional development and clinical excellence.

Hazmat Team

The Sussex County EMS Hazardous Materials Team serves as the department’s primary medical support component for hazardous materials incidents throughout Sussex County. Every member is certified as a Hazardous Materials Technician, providing advanced knowledge in hazardous substance recognition, personal protective equipment, decontamination operations, responder safety, and patient care within contaminated environments.

Working alongside the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), local fire departments, and regional public safety partners, the team supports incidents involving chemical releases, transportation accidents, industrial emergencies, and other hazardous environments.

Integrated with the department’s Technical Rescue Team, members operate within an all-hazards response model capable of providing technical decontamination, atmospheric monitoring, rehabilitation, advanced life support, rescue medical support, and specialized operations during confined space, collapse, rope, trench, and other technical rescue incidents. Their advanced certifications ensure patients and responders receive expert medical care even in the most challenging environments.

CISM & Peer Support

Emergency responders regularly encounter stressful and emotionally challenging incidents. The Sussex County EMS Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and Peer Support Team provides confidential support to employees following difficult calls, line-of-duty deaths, pediatric emergencies, provider injuries, and other critical incidents.

Team members are trained through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) and hold certifications in Basic and Advanced Individual Crisis Intervention and Basic and Advanced Group Crisis Intervention. These specialized skills prepare them to provide one-on-one peer support, facilitate group defusings and debriefings, and connect employees with additional resources when needed.

The Sussex County EMS CISM Team is proud to be one of only three organizations in Delaware recognized as an ICISF Team Member Organization, joining the Delaware State Police and Bayhealth. This designation recognizes teams that meet ICISF’s nationally established standards for training, team development, and the delivery of Critical Incident Stress Management and peer support services.

While the team provides valuable peer support and early intervention, it is not intended to replace licensed mental health professionals or ongoing psychological care. Its mission is to promote resilience, reduce stigma, and ensure our personnel never face difficult experiences alone.

Learn More About ICISF

Honor Guard

The Sussex County EMS Honor Guard represents the department with dignity, professionalism, and unwavering respect. Serving as the ceremonial face of Sussex County EMS, Honor Guard members participate in funerals, memorial services, graduation ceremonies, promotional ceremonies, public events, and other occasions that recognize the traditions and sacrifices of emergency service professionals.

Honor Guard members complete specialized ceremonial training while maintaining the highest standards of appearance, discipline, and professionalism. Their role extends beyond ceremony—they preserve the history and traditions of the department, honor those who have served before us, and represent Sussex County EMS with pride throughout Delaware and beyond.

Whether standing watch over a fallen responder or presenting the colors at a community event, the Honor Guard serves as a lasting reminder of the honor, commitment, and service that define our profession.

Simulation Team

Every advancement in medicine begins with training. The Sussex County EMS Simulation Team is responsible for designing, developing, and delivering realistic training experiences that prepare providers for the challenges they may encounter in the field before those moments involve actual patients.

Using high-fidelity simulation technology, realistic scenarios, structured debriefings, and evidence-based educational practices, the team develops training for new employee orientation, continuing education, specialty teams, competency validation, and the implementation of new equipment, medications, and clinical procedures.

Nationally recognized for educational excellence, Sussex County EMS became the first EMS agency in the world to earn accreditation through the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). The Simulation Team continues to lead innovation in EMS education while supporting providers throughout every stage of their careers.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SIMULATION PROGRAM

TEMS Team

The Sussex County EMS Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) Team provides advanced medical support during high-risk law enforcement operations and specialized public safety incidents. Team members complete the nationally recognized Tactical Medical Practitioner (TMP) program through SOAR, preparing them to deliver life-saving care in tactical and austere environments while operating alongside law enforcement partners.

As one of the department’s newest specialty teams, the TEMS Program continues to grow through expanded training and developing partnerships with local, state, and regional public safety agencies, further strengthening Sussex County’s all-hazards response capabilities.