The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services today announced that eighteen emergency medical services (EMS) responders from across the state recently completed a new ‘Rescue Task Force for EMS’ pilot course at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany. The course provided EMS responders with tools and techniques to save civilian lives through the use of rescue task force and tactical emergency casualty care principles. Taught by a team of instructors from the State Preparedness Training Center, and the National Center for Security & Preparedness, students learned how to form a rescue task force with law enforcement to enable responders to treat and evacuate victims as quickly as possible in an emergency situation.

“Having a unified response by EMS and law enforcement to an active shooter will save lives,” said Roger L. Parrino, Sr., Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. “It is imperative that EMS and law enforcement work together when responding to active shooter incidents so that essential first aid can be provided to those in need as quickly and safely as possible to minimize casualties.”

Recent events have spurred a national discussion on the survivability of victims and safety of first responders during active shooter events and other forms of aggressive deadly behavior. Developed in response to these types of incidents, the new course integrates lessons learned from the responses to recent attacks and emphasizes the importance of immediate interventions on potentially preventable causes of death.

During the two day course, students applied concepts discussed in the classroom to skill lanes, including rescue task force movement, hemorrhage control and triage. Students also discussed and applied concepts related to on-scene command, decision-making and peer leadership. Utilizing the extensive training venues at the State Preparedness Training Center, the course culminates with scenario-based situations where responders have to integrate skills and concepts into responses to simulated attacks.

Dr. Joseph Bart, EMS medical director at the University of Buffalo, a noted expert in the field of EMS integration into law enforcement operations and a key contributor to the development of the new course, said, “In the current threat environment, the successful integration of EMS and law enforcement can mean the difference between life and death of victims in mass casualty events. This course teaches EMS how to effectively work with law enforcement so that EMS knows how to respond to an incident and provide rapid medical care to the injured as soon as it is safe to do so.”

The State Preparedness Training Center will offer this course again on July 20-21^st, and August 30-31^st. Maximum class size is limited to 24 students. To register for this course or others at the Center, visit the training calendar.

About the SPTC

The State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC), operated by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, affords state, local, and federal agencies a complex of training venues to conduct the entire spectrum of training. From classroom lectures and discussions to reality- and high-performance scenario-based training, the SPTC offers opportunities for dynamic emergency first responder training. The SPTC offers agencies realistic training environments such as a simulated city, residential housing complex, collapsed building rubble pile, woodland structures and other settings. Now in its 11th year of operation, the SPTC annually trains thousands of New York’s first responders, including law enforcement, emergency medical services (EMS), and emergency management personnel, in a variety of areas including response to active shooter events, emergency vehicle operations, EMS special situations, and patrol officer survival.

About DHSES

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and its four offices -- Counter Terrorism, Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Control, and Interoperable and Emergency Communications -- provide leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter, or visit dhses.ny.gov.