Dallas Fire-Rescue Almost Done Training Firefighters, EMTs on Mass Casualty Response

Dallas first responders carrying a dummy
Firefighters Adam Yarbrough (center) and Kenny Wafer (right) carried out a dummy as a part of a drill during Intentional Mass Casualty Incident training by Dallas Fire Rescue on Dec. 10 at Hensley Field in Grand Prairie.

Matt Kyle – The Dallas Morning News

Since August, Dallas Fire-Rescue has been training its 1,400-member force on the proper tactics and procedure for responding to an intentional mass casualty event.

With roughly 1,300 first responders trained as of Tuesday, the initiative is nearing its end.

The sessions have taken place four times a week at a building in Grand Prairie that the Dallas Police Department uses to train its SWAT teams. Each training takes 20 first responders on their day off and teaches them the proper protocol for responding to an intentional mass casualty event, such as a mass shooting.

In the building, alarms sound as first responders’ radios chatter with information on the status of the faux victims, who are in reality dummies with fake injuries. A first responder acting as a police officer goes from room to room, clearing them of any potential danger, before paramedics are allowed to enter and treat the victims.

Responders assess the injuries before dragging the dummies out of the room and to the front of the building, where an ambulance would be waiting in a real scenario. Responders must also assess the wounds on the dummy, as more serious injuries require an immediate response, while lesser injuries can be loaded directly into an ambulance.

DFR Interim Chief Justin Ball said trainings like these are becoming increasingly necessary.

“Even though it’s an infrequent event, this stuff is happening across the country, particularly active shooter incidents,” Ball said. “We want to put ourselves in a position to give the best possible outcome to any victims.”

DFR Interim Assistant Chief Scott Pacot said the training was developed through a collaboration with a national network of first responder agencies to determine the best practices for responding to a mass casualty incident, specifically an intentional one.

Pacot said the focus of the training is on proper procedures for evacuating victims to safety following an incident.

Pacot said an intentional mass casualty event carries with it an increased risk to first responders and victims as well as an increased police presence, making a specialized response plan a necessity.

During the training, first responders are judged by a DFR captain, who then gives feedback to personnel following the completion of the training.

©2024 The Dallas Morning News. Visit dallasnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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