Greece, N.Y. – Police respond to almost every EMS and fire call, however, they’re not always first on the scene, and sometimes firefighters and paramedics don’t know a scene is violent before they get there.
For these reasons, Greece police are teaching other first responders potentially lifesaving tactics and techniques.
“This is opening up a whole different world of training for us,” said Lakeshore Fire Department Deputy Chief James O’Coin. “We’re used to going into burning buildings... now they’re teaching us what they know and what happens when they walk in. There are two different types of training and they’re giving us some insight on what we can do to protect ourselves and protect our people, that’s huge.”
“We can't prevent an attack from occurring, but we want to give them all the skills and the confidence, that if an attack does occur, they have a response to use instead of just reacting out of a hope,” said Greece Police Chief Todd Baxter, who ran the training session.
Four different fire departments were at the training: Lakeshore, North Greece, Ridge Road, and Barnard.
Members of Monroe County and Greece Volunteer Ambulance were also there.
Training included cognitive work and also physical skills.
Chief Baxter taught how to use the natural flinch response, or natural reaction to their advantage.
“They’re going to find themselves in a situation someday just by the nature of first responders, but there’s also a response,” said Baxter.
“It gives you another tool in your tool box,” said O’Coin, “another level of awareness, what to watch out for things that you can do to help protect yourself and help protect your people and that's what we're looking to do because we all want to go home.”
