IL Village Prepares Medics for Active Shooters

The village is considering equipping and training paramedics to provide assistance to victims of shootings before a situation is entirely under control

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By Steve Zalusky

The Daily Herald

The Mount Prospect fire department is contemplating purchasing equipment that will give paramedics the ability to respond more quickly to active shooting incidents.

Deputy Chief Brian Lambel told a joint meeting of the village board and the Finance Commission that he is requesting $20,000 for such equipment as vests, armor and helmets.

“What we have done in the past is we haven’t gone in as long as the scene was hot or active. We would wait until the scene was cleared and then we would go in and treat the injured,” Lambel said at last week’s meeting on the village Capital Improvement Plan.

Lambel said studies have shown that in some cases, people could have been saved if help arrived sooner. The plan is for firefighters in a rescue task force, under police protection, to go into areas considered “warm” rather than “hot.”

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