HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah — Each year, communities around the world face tragedies due to active shooter/hostile events, forcing emergency responders to prepare for any number of worst case scenarios in order to save lives.
With the RTF model, the decision to move in and provide emergency medical intervention is assessed much sooner during an incident involving gun violence. A “task force” or integrated team of security forces and fire EMTs/AEMTs move in together to provide immediate protection and basic medical care to victims.
“Fire and law enforcement have always worked together during emergency incidents, but rarely to this extent and never directly physically attached to one another as an operational team,” said Jeff Herriott, assistant fire chief in charge of special operations for Hill AFB’s fire and emergency services.
In the past, fire/EMS responders were trained to “lock-down” in place or “hold short” of an area involving an active shooter/hostile event until it was proven to be clear of all threats.
