Excerpts from Jems.com:
When members of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) approach hostile situations, they are focused on neutralizing the threat, but situations can quickly turn into active shooter incidents.
The CPD knows that the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) has their back. They also know their fellow officers have been trained in basic self-aid and partner-aid in case of emergency … they’ve practiced lifesaving medical care in simulated active shooter situations with CFD paramedics alongside them.
Traditional tactical EMS (TEMS) is built on a model whereby a rarefied group of medics, police officers, and even physicians are crosstrained in the skills of the others’ specialties. Medics are trained to handle firearms and to enter hostile situations, and police officers are cross-trained in paramedicine. Because of this specialized training, these tactical support personnel go on missions together.
In Chicago, the traditional model of embedding a TEMS paramedic team with every high-risk police operation isn’t feasible. Considering the number of police operations and an already busy EMS system, such a structure would leave little room for the necessary EMS response.
… eight years ago, a cross-departmental group was formed to develop a new approach to hostile scenes as an alternative to traditional TEMS.
The new Chicago-style approach;… in the hot zone, police manage the scene and are trained in self-aid and partner-aid. CFD paramedics are staged in the cold zone who know exactly what level of training the CPD personnel have and can anticipate hot zone treatment prior to extrication if an officer is injured.
The first step in the development of the model used in Chicago focused on the medical support of SWAT operations. In 2008, a small group of cross-trained CPD SWAT officers approached leadership from the CPD, the CFD, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital to propose a more collaborative approach to TEMS. This group recognized that the CPD and the CFD didn’t have common protocols, training or even understanding of the others’ approach to SWAT operations. The SWAT Medic Assault and Rescue Technician (SMART) program grew out of this collaboration.
The SMART program was created with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) curriculum for tactical emergency casualty care and emphasizes self-aid and partner-aid of immediately life-threatening injuries at the point of wounding.This revolutionized the emergency medical care and coordination during SWAT operations in Chicago.
The program has been met with overwhelming support by CPD and CFD members who have already completed the training program. Hundreds of CPD and CFD members have been insructed on the principles of self-aid and partner-aid, however the program is still ongoing in its effort to train all 12,500 CPD officers.
thanks Dan
#1 by Otis Morgan on May 17, 2016 - 5:51 PM
Belvidere Police and Fire working together TEMS:
OSF Partners with Local First Responders in Life Saving Initiative
1/12/2016 – Rockford, Illinois
Dr. Stephen Minore, OSF Tactical Medicine Medical Director talks about training EMTs to be part of the new Tactical Emergency Medical Services team for Belvidere and Boone County police officers and firefighters.
Providing life-saving medical care at the scene of an emergency is the central objective of a new partnership between OSF HealthCare, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, with police and firefighters in Belvidere and Boone County.
Already a certified Tactical Response Team (TRT), commonly known as a SWAT team, the Belvidere Police Department working together with the Belvidere Fire and Boone County Sheriff’s Departments has been certified by the Illinois Department of Public Health as having incorporated Tactical Emergency Medical Services (TEMS) into their initial response police team.
OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center is the resource hospital for the Belvidere Police and Fire Departments and the Boone County Sheriff’s Department. Dr. Stephen Minore (Mihn-or-ee) is the Tactical Medicine Medical Director.
A first-of its-kind program in the area, TEMS is ready to provide medical care at the scene rather than having to move the patients to another area or an ambulance.
“This extra layer of training and certification will safeguard the entire Belvidere Tactical Response Team and those we would be removing from harm’s way”, says Belvidere Police Chief Jan Noble.
Paramedic Emergency Medical Services personnel participate in extensive tactical training with the Belvidere Police Tactical Response Team and are part of and deployed with the police tactical team to provide care to police officers, victims, and at times the offenders.
“Tactical Emergency Medicine has the potential to save lives and careers. OSF Healthcare has a long and proud history that includes Tactical Emergency Medicine”, says Dr. Jane Pearson, OSF EMS Medical Director. Further, she says “The addition of the credentialed and experienced Dr. Minore as Medical Director is evidence of our commitment to assist and support law enforcement agencies in developing this important medical capability. Dr. Minore’s leadership will promote excellence in tactical emergency medicine through education, training and operational support
#2 by Chuck on May 15, 2016 - 11:23 PM
So no bunker gear, and from a few years ago, no body armor, but they expect CFD medics to be doing tactical EMS? With WHAT GEAR, exactly?