Tactical Paramedics

[nsmedicman]

W eare looking to develop a tactical paramedic capability here in Nova Scotia. Just wondering who would be a good resource to help us get the program off the ground.

 

[HItorMiss]

That is going to depend on what you mean by tactical Paramedic.

Do you mean Paramedics used as integral support to say HRM Police Tac unit or do you have your own definition in mind?

 

[medicineman]

NS - talk to Edmonton, Calgary or Toronto EMS - they all have active tactical EMS programs.

MM

 

[mariomike]

That is going to depend on what you mean by tactical Paramedic.

Perhaps something like this?:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalmond/584379969/sizes/l/in/set-72157600178392946/

"In 1996, Toronto Emergency Medical Services formed the first team of Tactical Paramedics in Canada.":
http://www.torontoems.ca/main-site/service/etf.html

"This specialized group of level 2 and 3 Paramedics are specially selected and trained in conjunction with the Toronto Police Emergency Task Force. These medics deploy with the Police ETF teams in high risk situations involving hostage takings, warrant issuances, or barricaded psychiatric patient calls. They work closely with the ETF Tactical Gun Teams, and enter the "Hot Zone" along with these teams. Their primary function is Team Support, and patient stabilization and extraction.":
http://www.torontoparamedicassociation.com/levels_of_practice.aspx

"Tactical paramedics and officers run 'The Gauntlet' ":
http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/11476e3d3711f56e85256616006b891f/c5dfab08c56eeed485256df60045f0c5?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,*station*

"Tactical paramedics from Toronto EMS finished 1-2 in the International Tactical Emergency Medical Services Association's 2nd  Annual 'Medic Up' Competition on October 9 at Exhibition Place.":
http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/3257dc890938d23b85256dde005a446b/446509a580f1d13185256df60045f23c?OpenDocument

T-EMS fills their Tactical Paramedic vacancies internally through the "senior qualified process". The "relative ability process" is limited to CCTU Paramedics. They are not hired "off the street".

 

[nsmedicman]

As in developing a specially trained and equipped unit to provide close medical support to police tactical teams.

 

[medaid]

Good luck!

 

[The_Falcon]

The OPP also employ tactical paramedics.

 

[mariomike]

W eare looking to develop a tactical paramedic capability here in Nova Scotia. Just wondering who would be a good resource to help us get the program off the ground.

Due to the nature of our business, SOPs and special units are often created as a result of a Coroner's jury recommendation.
You need a request from your local police to provide them Paramedics. The police, if they have an ETF unit, will provide their training. Your local government will have to approve the funding.
Under the Collective Agreement, "Paramedics of the Public Safety Unit (PSU), EMS Tactical Paramedics (ETF),  Heavy Urban Search and Rescue ( HUSAR ) and Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Response Team (CBRN) shall, in addition to their regular salary, be paid a $1,000.00 annual premium, which shall be part of their pensionable earnings."
In addition to that, they require special ambulances, uniforms and equipment. Loaning them for ETF operations and training will remove them from the 9-1-1 car count. The department will be required to call replacement crews in on overtime to ensure that the car count will be maintained at required levels.

you would also have to receive endorsement from your Base Hospital. If unionized, from the union as well.

If you already have a program in place with your local police, such as Marine Paramedics, it will make things easier.

 

[medicineman]

The OPP also employ tactical paramedics.

I was actually being scouted for that before I left Kingston...but the TRU team at the time didn't have a dedicated TEMS section, just a dude that worked for the Belleville ambulance service that took a tactical paramedic course and trained/deployed with the team on call outs.  Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton have dedicated sections within their respective ambulance services that respond with the ERT's to incidents requiring tactical intervention.  They train with the teams, have to pass their physical fitness tests, etc.  It's also not unusual to hear of a paramedic or two from local EMS that moonlight with the police tactical units as their dedicated support (usually under an MOU with the local ambualnce service) if they have infrequent callouts.

MM 

 

[Civvymedic]

  Most EMS services in Ontario have Tactical medics. I would contact Toronto, York and Ottawa EMS.

  I used to work in NS. Great system. Good luck.

 

[mariomike]

The OPP also employ tactical paramedics.

For anyone interested in the job, here is the OPP Tactical Paramedic Job Call from 2009.
Note: "Must be currently employed and continue to be employed as a full-time advanced care paramedic with an ambulance service in Ontario."
Position Title:  Advanced Care Paramedic (On-Call)
Job Location:  Kingston, Orillia, London, Bolton and Thunder Bay
Salary:  $34.91 per hour
Classification:  Scientist 3 (A-typical)
Posting Date:  02 July 2009 Closing Date:  24 July 2009  __________________________________________________________________________

The Ministry of Public Safety & Security, Ontario Provincial Police, Field Support Bureau, is interested in developing a pool of on-call advance care paramedics, at key locations, to staff a new tactical medical program (TEMS). Paramedics will be required to provide medical support to a variety of police tactical incidents.


Qualifications:

Currently licensed as a Paramedic according to the Ambulance Act of Ontario.    Ability to maintain certification as an advanced care paramedic with a local base hospital and with the OPP Medical Program.  Must be currently employed and continue to be employed as a full-time advanced care paramedic with an ambulance service in Ontario.  
Ability to pass physical fitness testing.    Must be available and able to respond to calls for service within 30 minutes (average 2 per month).  Must be able to pass OPP background security investigation.



Resumes/applications are to be forwarded to: Inspector Chris Sharpe, Field Support Bureau, Ontario Provincial Police, 777 Memorial Avenue, Orillia  L3V 7V3 showing how your qualifications, training and experience relate to the position and must be received by 4:30 p.m. on 24 July 2009.

Telephone: (705) 329-7590  Fax: (705) 329-7593

THE ONTARIO PUBLIC SERVICE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

OPP: Tactical Emergency Medical Services:
"The paramedics will continue to be employed as full-time paramedics with their own municipal ambulance services, and will be available to the OPP on an on-call basis, when off duty."
http://www.opp.ca/ecms/index.php?id=63

Topic: "Tactical Paramedics": ( by NSmedicman )
http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/40106.0

 

[mariomike]

Most EMS services in Ontario have Tactical medics. I would contact Toronto, York and Ottawa EMS.

York sounds like "Super-Medics". I hope they get a nice bonus at Christmas:
"The York Region EMS SRU is the only unit in Ontario to offer an all-hazards approach to specialized
responses. The unit offers logistical and medical support to police tactical incidents and high-risk fire calls,
plus multiple casualty incidents, the care and transport of bariatric patients (those weighing greater than
150 kg/350 pounds), hazardous material emergencies, search and rescue operations and public order
incidents.":
http://www.york.ca/NR/rdonlyres/hey4vlctbr2jdlezjx5od7jhkh4yqvwyz6mznn7jttyrfop4rniuqubiauzysm6ygcf2ppmdyijxvjzfp5bubqtgvh/08-Nov11EMSSRU.pdf

"the care and transport of bariatric patients (those weighing greater than 150 kg/350 pounds)"
They must love < sarcasm> being specially selected for those calls at 4 in morning! 
The Dispatchers I know liked to save the back-breakers for their not-so-favorite crews.

 

[Civvymedic]

  We have a bariatric unit where I work as well. We Durham Region EMS are the only urban service in Ontario to not have TAC Medics. We actually have no special teams... :crybaby: We do have a Bariatric unit that we can all access though.

 

[mariomike]

  We have a bariatric unit where I work as well. We Durham Region EMS are the only urban service in Ontario to not have TAC Medics. We actually have no special teams... :crybaby: We do have a Bariatric unit that we can all access though.

"A car is car, and a call is a call."  But, that changed.
I decided to go on the Multi-Patient Unit MPU Program:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKEjyughXEE

We handled all the back-breakers bariatric patients. ( The buses had electro-hydraulic ramps. I have some ramp failure stories. I personally sustained a "Critical Injury" one time at Northwestern G.H. )  I have ( literally ) tons of heavy-lifting stories. Especially with so many old style homes and walk-ups built over ravines.


The first ambulance-bus I drove was a 1961 GMC "fishbowl" ( model of the original ):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emergencyvehicles/3592597898/

There were nine of us on the program. Split into three, three-man crews. ( 0700-1900 Monday to Friday only. Two crews on-duty, one crew off. You worked 20 days, every six-weeks. 5-3-2-5-3-2 ) Each crew worked an Orion bus:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/e2kmaster/4572195975/in/photostream/

We moved an average of 25 patients, per crew, per ( 12-hour ) day. They used to run us hot from one end of Metro to the other. The buses covered Metro-wide. ( And the GTA ) Once we pulled out of station, that's the last we saw of it until it was time to wash-up and book-off. There was a lot of overtime. We used to carry SCBA, but not anymore.

Incidentally, on MPUs, the stretcher patients all face forward. They liked that, and the big tinted windows to look out of. MPUs were very comfortable to work on. You could stand up straight and walk along the deck. Bus suspension is much smoother than the regular truck ambulances.

( There is also an ESU Eldorado bus:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/knl-17/4329989980/in/pool-1066497@N25
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gopherit2/4651461206/in/pool-1066497@N25

and various trucks:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gopherit2/4650851227/in/pool-1066497@N25


that are available 24/7/365. Also a three-axle MCI highway coach in reserve ( model of original ):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emergencyvehicles/3592635310/in/photostream/

That is a good job too. Only downside is the shift-work.  )

If I was a young guy, this is the Special Ops unit I would put in for:
http://www.torontoems.ca/main-site/service/marine.html

"The Marine Unit covers an area of 460 square miles (that's twice the size of the City of Toronto) and operates year round, 24 hours a day. The Unit's patrol area extends to the United Sates border. The Unit is also responsible for all river systems within the City of Toronto."

Topic: "Tactical Paramedics": ( by NSmedicman )
http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/40106.0

 

[Sheerin]

  We have a bariatric unit where I work as well. We Durham Region EMS are the only urban service in Ontario to not have TAC Medics. We actually have no special teams... :crybaby: We do have a Bariatric unit that we can all access though.

Durham's not alone, Hamilton doesn't have a tactical team either.  We do have several bariatric trucks, lol

 

[mariomike]

Durham's not alone, Hamilton doesn't have a tactical team either.  We do have several bariatric trucks, lol

I read that the Paramedics in Ottawa are trained to treat police dogs. Two weeks at veterinary school.

"Ottawa paramedics learning to treat police dogs: Paramedics are often the first people on the scene when a police officer is injured in the line of duty, but if a new program in Ottawa is successful, a group of paramedics will be using their skills to treat injured police dogs as well.":
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/01/27/ott-ontario-paramedics-dogs.html

Coroner's Inquest. London, Ontario:

"Cocaine induced excited delirium:
Reasoning: In light of the successful training of tactical paramedics who administer chemical
restraint in other Ontario cities (E.g. Toronto) this technique should be explored in London as a
method of ensuring that the subject is brought under control and can be given medical
assistance as quickly as possible.":
http://www.ppao.gov.on.ca/pdfs/sys-tas-lam.pdf

 

[acooper]

As far as I know, Windsor-Essex EMS does not have a tactical team. At least I've never seen the job description posted, and I'm in the same union, and our group does their technical support. I have no idea about bariatric equipment, though...

 

[mariomike]

As far as I know, Windsor-Essex EMS does not have a tactical team. At least I've never seen the job description posted, and I'm in the same union, and our group does their technical support. I have no idea about bariatric equipment, though...

Tactical ( We call them Emergency Task Force ETF ) are part of the regular fleet, until required. So are PSU, HUSAR, CBRN and Bike. Most of the time, they do regular 9-1-1 calls.

The most in-demand Ops are MPU/ESU, PCTU, ERU, CCTU and Marine. Marine would be my first choice.
As far as bariatric units go, we have various, but this is the latest:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gopherit2/4858576021/

 

[acooper]

I talked to one of the EMS Supervisors on my way in today, and yes - Windsor-Essex EMS DOES have a tactical team. Apparently, they are associated with the hazmat team here, and don't get a special position or anything. At least I can say I learned something today

 

[mariomike]

Video:
Peel EMS ( Ontario ) tactical paramedics:
http://www.peelregion.ca/paramedics/about-para/video/tactical-response.htm

Hastings-Quinte EMS ( Ontario ) Tactical Paramedics:
http://www.hastingscounty.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=78