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EMSWORLD.com | MARCH 2015 17 will organize themselves in the operations sector. The paramedic quickly commu- nicates that information to the battalion chief, and soon the complete set of EMS and fire resources is in place at the front of the building. More patients are being brought to the lobby of the courthouse, with a variety of complaints related to taking cover from the gunman, including from running down steps and falling in the pandemonium. The Attack One crew is in place to perform tri- age and now has a number of fire and EMS personnel to assist. There are no further gunshot wounds and on initial assessment no other severe injuries or illnesses. Command has been establsihed at the chief's car. Law enforcement believes there is only one gunman who is acting alone, and that he shot a number of people in the building, then exited and shot the officer who may not have even known there was an event occurring. There is no obvious additional criminal problem in the building. But many courthouse employees have bar- ricaded themselves in rooms in the building and there is no single PA system that will contact all of them. The operations sector is developing an action plan to sweep the entire building to look for victims, second- ary devices and any other threats. They will also liberate the persons who are bar- ricaded in offices and rooms. Law enforcement officers believe fire per- sonnel are better skilled at moving through the building quickly and in an organized fashion to locate other problems and do the rescue operations, but each group of fire personnel will be accompanied by an armed officer. They will also safely perform any breaching operations needed to open locked doors. Command establishes the objectives over the radio. "Each entry team will perform a search in their designated sector only, and accompanied at all times by at least one armed officer. Any victims will be carried or directed to the first floor lobby, where hot zone triage will be performed. All crews will maintain their members at all times, and not move as individuals at any point, to avoid problems with law enforcement operations. As assigned sectors are cleared, report to command. Move quickly and safely. Identify and move away from any objects that may be secondary devices." The Attack One crew members are assigned as triage, and other EMS officers are designated as the transport sector com- mand. The transport command officer has the responsibility to determine transport hospital receiving sites, make contact with the hospitals and track the removals. Treatment sector will care for all persons who need on-scene care, such as those who have minor ailments related to the evacu- ation process. An initial group of EMS personnel and an officer are assigned to tactical respon- For More Information Circle 19 on Reader Service Card