NCJ Number
229174
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 36 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2009 Pages: 28-33
Date Published
October 2009
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article profiles SWAT paramedical teams, which combine fire, emergency medical services (EMS), and police training in order to provide tactical defense and first-aid care in situations that civilian paramedic teams are unprepared and unequipped to enter.
Abstract
SWAT paramedics not only protect officers while they are in the hot zone, they also provide immediate aid to suspects, victims, and hostages. Like their military counterparts, Tactical Emergency Medical Service (TEMS) units accompany SWAT teams on virtually all high-risk missions and training. Unlike civilian paramedics, tactical medics are trained and equipped to defend themselves as well as provide faster life-saving support to officers and civilians while they are still in dangerous situations. In addition to providing EMS in dangerous places, TEMS can monitor officers' welfare on-scene, monitoring temperature, food and water supplies, stress, and other health threats of an environment and tactics. Members of TEMS units wear olive drab uniforms that distinguish them from other SWAT team members in their black uniforms. All members have the same heavy body armor, but only TEMS members have additional pouches to held medical gear. Some, but not all, medics are armed with side arms but not long guns. They are not part of the actual assault team, but are close enough to answer the call for a medic. TEMS members have been recruited from both law enforcement and civilian EMS units. Training involves cooperation from both types of agencies.