West Virginia Active Threat EMS
While the information contained in this news article was current and accurate when we posted it, it may not necessarily represent current WVOEMS policy or procedure. If you have any questions, please contact our office at 304-558-3956.
Posted: Monday, December 17, 2018 1:40 PM
West Virginia Active Threat EMS
The West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services (WVOEMS) and the West Virginia Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (EMSAC) have been working over the past year to evaluate and implement training for first responders specifically relating to active threat situations. This has been no small undertaking as many agencies tend to drift in one direction or another. No program of this nature can be successful without buy-in from all agencies respectively. Acts of violence present unusual circumstances that require a collaborative response from public safety agencies to mitigate the threats and to provide immediate treatment to those injured.
Active threat programs must be implemented methodically with input from all. The first step of the EMSAC subcommittee was to adopt the Stop the Bleed program. That has been a huge success across the state and the program is growing daily.
Secondly is the development of an Active Threat program that can be provided to all first responders across the state while maintaining consistency with local authorities, law enforcement, fire, EMS, and other state agencies. The idea behind this is that these incidents evolve and end quickly. The first responder on duty that day will likely be one of the first on scene.
The purpose of this training is to establish a baseline for deployment into incidents involving acts of violence and to identify various modes of operation. Responding personnel will most likely be placed into situations in which they do not normally operate. Law enforcement officers could be placed into tactical situations and may need to provide initial lifesaving care for victims while fire and EMS personnel may need to enter areas that have not been completely cleared of potential threats.
The goal of this training is to provide guidance to and share best practices with area jurisdictions on responding to acts of violence and discuss how to initiate steps towards mitigation and recovery. This training will provide a framework for public safety response to acts of violence.
The committee has recommended the FEMA TECC course as the basic program to educate West Virginia providers in active threat response. This a grant funded program and will be offered free of charge to those who apply and are accepted. Those who complete the initial training will become trainers and will be expected to participate in future program across the state. The FEMA program is a six-module product of which all or individual modules may be taught. They are outlined as follows:
PER-356: TECC for First Care Providers (half day)
PER-357: TECC for Law Enforcement (full day)
PER-358: TECC for Fire/EMS (full day)
PER-359: TECC for First Receivers (half day)
PER-360: TECC First Responder Integration for Active
Shooter/Active Killing Incidents- Rescue Task Force (half
day)
PER-361: TECC Active Shooter/Active Killing Incident Command (2
hours)
This training will be held at the RETI facility in Flatwoods, WV on January 21, 22, and 23, 2019. This class will be provided free of charge and conducted through George Washington University. There will be an application process to attend this training and all applications will be evaluated by WVOEMS. Those who are selected should plan to be in class at 8AM through the evening hours daily with breaks for lunch and dinner. Those selected will also need to wear clothes that are comfortable and allow you to perform physical activity in as well as cold weather gear for exterior scenarios.