AMU Emergency Management Original Public Safety

Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Shows Need for TEMS Teams

By Allison G. S. Knox
Contributor, EDM Digest

If you ask a combat veteran how fast a firefight happens, he will tell you that it can happen in a surprisingly short amount of time. The same is true in active shooter situations.

It’s critical therefore that emergency response is on the scene as quickly as possible to apprehend the shooter and save as many lives as possible. That’s why Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) teams are a critical component of any emergency response.

The Synagogue Shooting Timeline

According to CNN, the first 911 calls reported an active shooter at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh at 9:54 a.m. Officers were dispatched to the scene one minute later. Within minutes of their arrival, one officer was wounded and an unknown number of worshippers were dead.

What ensued lasted about an hour while officers worked to secure the scene. CNN said that one tactical officer was quickly able to reach a victim, demonstrating the importance of tactically trained personnel.

In all, 11 worshippers were slain and four police officers were wounded.

The Need for Tactical Emergency Medical Support Teams

Most towns and cities have excellent teams trained in tactical response, particularly within law enforcement agencies. Whenever a situation is particularly dangerous, these teams are dispatched to the scene with the appropriate bullet-proof protection. More importantly, they know precisely how to react to an active shooter situation because of their extensive training.

However, many municipalities do not currently have TEMS teams. It’s no wonder that the American College of Emergency Physicians has urged the creation of more TEMS units across the country.

First responders trained in TEMS can enter a zone almost immediately to tend to the wounded. These units are known to provide a high survival rate and work well with SWAT teams.

As the frequency of active shooter incidents continues to rise, more and more municipalities will need to create TEMS teams. This will allow communities to be better prepared should an active shooter incident occur in their jurisdiction.

TEMS teams are an increasingly important part of public safety. They help to provide a healthy and safe environment for both law enforcement and the public.

Allison G.S. Knox

Allison G. S. Knox teaches in the fire science and emergency management departments at the University. Focusing on emergency management and emergency medical services policy, she often writes and advocates about these issues. Allison works as an Intermittent Emergency Management Specialist in the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. She also serves as the At-Large Director of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, Chancellor of the Southeast Region on the Board of Trustees with Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Sciences, chair of Pi Gamma Mu’s Leadership Development Program and Assistant Editor for the International Journal of Paramedicine. Prior to teaching, Allison worked for a member of Congress in Washington, D.C. and in a Level One trauma center emergency department. She is an emergency medical technician and holds five master’s degrees.

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