During a mass shooting – paramedics normally wait outside while the suspect is still at large. Traditionally, it’s only members of law enforcement who enter the so-called “hot zone” in these scenarios, and firefighters and paramedics wait until the area is secured.

However, that is precious time that an injured and bleeding victim waits for help. “We can’t wait hours while people are in the corridor dying while we’re waiting for bad guys with guns to be removed,” Omaha Asst. Fire Chief Shane Hunter said.

That will soon start to change in Omaha, Nebraska, where members of a new rescue task force are training to “jointly respond in the event of a mass shooting or other situation where multiple causalities are likely”–

Members of the task force include officers and firefighters from Omaha’ police and fire departments. This week, 40 of them went through hours of “classroom education and physical training,” which included learning how to apply tourniquets to themselves and others.

During the training, Omaha firefighters and paramedics tried on bullet-proof vests and helmets –the type of gear that will be added to the city’s fire trucks and ambulances.

Read full article here: http://www.firefightingnews.com/paramedics-no-longer-wait-stage-active-s...