Police officers and paramedics in Tallahassee have undergone joint training sessions aimed at stopping bleeding and saving lives in an initiative to bolster the response to active shooter scenarios.
The groundbreaking collaborative training is the first of its kind in Florida and is set to redefine the standard operating procedures for law enforcement and paramedics, officials say.
The newly established regional law enforcement hub, a partnership between the University of Miami’s Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education and the Florida Public Safety Institute at Tallahassee Community College, hosted the inaugural training session on December 4.
The director of training operations at the Gordon Center, Al Brotons, discussed the innovative training in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat.
“Whatever area they go in, they got to secure it, and if there’s victims in there, treat those victims while they’re still looking for the assailant. That’s new. We’ve never done this before,” Brotons said.
Traditionally, responses to active shooter incidents have been divided into phases, with law enforcement clearing the area before paramedics enter. However, this sequential approach may not always be the most effective, especially in situations where time is of the essence.
“And as we know from past history, the only way we’re going to be able to save a life is if we are able to interject that medic into that environment within minutes,” Brotons explained.
Indeed, the new training program aims to synchronize the efforts of both police and paramedics, allowing for a more rapid and coordinated response. According to officials, the collaboration not only facilitates a more efficient response but also ensures that lifesaving techniques are administered promptly.
The course, developed at the University of Miami and funded by a grant from the Florida Department of Education, is offered free of charge to municipalities looking to adopt this progressive training model.
Logan Lane, director of continuing education at the Florida Public Safety Institute, highlighted the unique aspects of the training for paramedics.
“We’re training them to understand we’re going to send you with protection. You’re not completely barren, but at the same time, there is a risk. But everybody knows when they get in this job, there’s risk with what we do.”
The training day concluded with a simulation at the old Gretna Elementary School in Gadsden County. Students from Gadsden County High School participated as mock victims, allowing first responders to hone their skills in a realistic setting.
The simulated emergency included scenarios where medics practiced techniques like needle decompression, wound packing and tourniquet application.
Thanks to military input during the development of the course, the training highly emphasized the application of tourniquets, which are important for preserving life.
“They may not keep that limb, but they’ll at least keep their life,” Lane explained.
Brotons said that perhaps most of all, the training allows first responders to stay calm under pressure.
“It’s an unfortunate type of training we have to do, but we have to do it,” he stated.
