MARION – Chief Brian Jackvony is pleased to announce that the Marion Fire Department has been awarded a grant by the Commonwealth Security Trust Fund (CSTF) to be used for training.
The CSTF Grant Program aims to enhance local police and fire departments’ abilities to respond to emergencies, including responses to acts of terrorism.
The grant received by the Marion Fire Department, in the amount of $5,976, will be used to send Marion’s EMTs and paramedics to a 16-hour National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) course.
The course teaches EMS practitioners how to respond to and care for patients in a civilian tactical environment. The course goes through the three phases of tactical care, including Hot Zone/Direct Threat Care that is rendered while under attack or in adverse conditions; Warm Zone/Indirect Threat Care that is rendered while the threat has been suppressed but may resurface at any point; and Cold Zone/Evacuation Care that is rendered while the casualty is being evacuated from the incident site.
The course covers treatment topics such as hemorrhage control and tourniquet application; steps to assess a trauma patient, known by the “MARCH” mnemonic; surgical airway control; strategies for treating wounded first responders in threatening environments; caring for pediatric patients; techniques for dragging and carrying victims to safety; and a final, mass-casualty/active shooter event simulation.
A total of $345,337.95 in funding was distributed between 40 communities. Funding can be used for equipment, technology, training or planning. The grants are administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s (EOPSS) Office of Grants & Research (OGR).
“This course will provide our EMTs and paramedics with advanced training in providing life-saving medical treatment during critical incidents, and will pair classroom learning with valuable simulations,” Chief Jackvony said. “Continuous training for as many types of scenarios as possible is incredibly important for our first responders, and we are grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration, CSTF Board of Trustees and EOPSS for their support.”
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