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By Sherry Long slong@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

NANTICOKE – Emergency responders received tactical unit training on Tuesday as part of a two-day seminar at Luzerne County Community College’s Public Safety Training Institute.

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Medical personnel and law enforcement participate in tactical medical training exercises at LCCC’s Public Safety Training Facility. Pictured are Allen Breach (aiming fake firearm) of the Columbia-Montour SWAT Team, Matt Kurtz of Geisinger Life Flight, and Kelly Kutza (background), a Geisinger Life Flight nurse.

Pete g. wilcox/ the times leader

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06/09/09-- Dr. David Schoenwetter, DO, Geisinger EMS Director, left, and Millville Police Chief Ted Stout, commander of the Columbia-Montour SWAT Team, describe the activities going on during the tactical medical training exercises at Luzerne County Community College's Public Safety Training Facility on Tuesday. Course participants will respond to simulated tactical scenarios including a courthouse shooting, a drug raid, a rural sniper and the issuing of a high risk warrant. The program was coordinated by members of Geisinger's Special Operations Medical Support Team. (PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER)

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Traditionally, emergency medical technicians and paramedics don’t enter a scene until it is secured by police. In this training, 28 EMTs, paramedics, doctors and nurses became members of tactical units working side-by-side with police to learn how to secure a scene, then treat the wounded in a hostage situation, under sniper fire, in a courtroom shooting or responding to a rural scene with a gunman on the loose.

Medical personnel learned what they need to know as a member of a tactical unit and were exposed to weapons police might use in different situations and how the weapons are used.

Doctors from the Medical College of Georgia’s Center for Operational Medicine taught the two-day course and oversaw the four simulated drills.

Dr. Gina Piazza, one of the doctors traveling across the country providing these training sessions, finds it rewarding to provide the skills necessary to these first responders to help save lives.

“Tactical medicine is appropriate for every tactical environment. It is somewhat even more important in a rural environment where ambulance transport or helicopter transport may be delayed. To be able to provide that bridge of emergency care from the scene to traditional EMS is critical and life saving,” Piazza said.

Twelve new members of Geisinger’s Special Operations Team participated in the training. Members of this team provide medical assistance during raids conducted by the state Attorney General’s Office and Columbia/Montour County SWAT Team, said Dr. David Schoenwetter, EMS coordinator for Geisinger Medical Center.

“It’s not so much learning the medical care, it’s learning what the environment is going to be like,” Schoenwetter said.

Columbia/Montour County SWAT Team Commander Ted Stout found the training invaluable.

He also pointed out medical personnel also can assist tactical units with other issues, including alerting commanders to high-risk weather conditions in which the personnel need to have extra water or food during a long standoff.

“Unfortunately with the SWAT scenario you are always going to have the possibility of someone getting hurt. So when you have someone getting hurt it’s great to have people like this on your team,” Stout said.

Sherry Long, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7159.