Emergency Response Massage International

ERMI Prepares

ERMI is an international organization of volunteer professional massage therapists specifically trained to respond in the event of an emergency or disaster. We are not first responders, and do not deploy until we are called in by relevant government agencies. We have not yet been officially contacted and need to prepare for that possibility.
If you are interested in becoming a member and possibly responding to the disaster in Haiti there are a few things you can do to prepare:

Required:

  • 1. Make copies of your current License and Professional Liability Insurance. Send one set of copies to ERMI at 227 S. Peak St., Columbus, NC 28722. Place a set in a file with copies of your drivers license, health insurance, and emergency contact information.

Recommended:

  • 2. Follow the steps below to take the independant study course for FEMA Certification. Include a copy of your certificate in your file and send the link to your certificate to abbie@ermassage.org
    • Go to http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is700a.asp to download the student manual for NIMS 700a. Click on Downloads for Classroom, click on Student Manual.  Save or print the file.
    • Go to http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is700a.asp and click on Take IS-700.a Final Exam. This will take you to a notice that the exam must be an individual effort. Check the box and click Continue. Each page has a box at the bottom to print the page. Print out each page of the exam.
    • This is an open book exam, so refer to the student manual to fill in your printed exam. Once you have completed the printed exam go back to the http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is700a.asp link and take the exam online.
    • You will receive an email shortly with a link to your FEMA certificate. DO NOT DELETE THIS EMAIL. You may print your certificate from the link provided in this email. You may also send the link to ERMI so we can print a copy for your file.


We currently have a training class scheduled in Cary. NC for Sunday, February 7, 2010. We will be scheduling more classes very soon, and will be conducting training on site in the event of a deployment.

Why We Exist

Emergency Response Massage International, Inc. (ERMI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit, volunteer organization of massage therapists that provide stress-reducing chair massage to Emergency Responders following a disaster/critical incident. ERMI team members are licensed/certified in their state, have liability insurance, and all Officers, State Coordinators, District Leaders are National Incident Management System (NIMS) certified.

ERMI was formed out of the need for a governing body to standardize training and become a clearing house for the numerous independent emergency response massage teams starting up world wide. ERMI works closely with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, FEMA, State and Local Emergency Management Agencies.