Implementing Tactical EMS in a Rural EMS Agency

Photo David Bowers   How a rural EMS agency implemented a tactical EMS program The police officer was waiting for the EMS crew when they exited the ambulance. “We have an active shooter at the middle school with multiple patients,” he said, holding an AR-15 replica training rifle. “The immediate area has been cleared but is not secured.” “Copy that,” said Brian Carr, a captain with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS (JHFEMS), before turning to his partner who was already to donning his tactical gear. “Let’s go!” As Captain Carr and his partner, paramedic Chris Stiehl, followed the officer through the front doors, another officer joined their team. Carr felt his stress level rise, but continued to lead the rescue task force (RTF) team they’d just created. Although he knew in his mind that this was a training scenario, there was just something about hearing the words “active shooter” and “school” that hit him in the gut and made his pulse race. The lobby of the school was eerily empty and quiet. A grey haze hung in the air with the smell of training ammunition smoke. As one officer led the crew through the school, snaking around corners and moving swiftly through open areas like SEAL Team 6, the second officer covered their tail. They could hear rounds popping off in the next building over and police officers shouting commands. Captain Carr and Paramedic Stiehl found their first patient, a middle-aged man, lying in a long hallway lined with classrooms. He ...
Source: JEMS Operations - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Major Incidents Training Operations Source Type: news