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EMSWORLD.com | NOVEMBER 2017 11 After the incident, responders will not only need time to perform routine duties such as unit restocking, cleaning and writ- ing patient care reports (which may be subpoenaed), but also to compose wit- ness statements, debrief, eat, hydrate, rest and check in with their loved ones. Have you thought about the logistics of gathering extra inventory? Is it eas- ily accessible? In Alexandria, we were temporarily without multiple EMS bags, EKG monitors, oxygen bottles, stretch- ers and even a department SUV as they were being processed within the taped- off crime scene of the baseball field. In a small agency with just six front-line ambulances, missing this equipment from two of our units meant a delay in getting back into service until we rounded up the extra inventory. Have we prepared enough for the post- traumatic stress our providers will experi- ence? Your agency may need to mar- shal the resources of multiple mental health experts. More than 100 EMS providers responded to the scene of the Route 91 incident; how long will it take to assess, evaluate and then treat these providers, perhaps for the long term? While the Las Vegas shooter was located quickly, many inaccurate reports of multiple shooters com- plicated law enforcement efforts. Not only do we have our own internal communication hurdles, but we also may not have a perfect way to com- municate with the public. After police officers were shot in Dallas in July 2016, the police depart- ment's medical director expressed frustration at the inability to clearly communicate with the public that the incident was over and the scene was safe. In addition, the Las Vegas shooting produced familiar stories of family members having difficul- ty tracking down their loved ones. With hospitals focusing on treating life threats, resources might not be immediately designated to identify patients or contact family members. EMS has an enormous task on its shoul- ders in trying to mitigate all of these dan- gers. But we do have a wealth of resourc - es and knowledge to bring to bear for these events. We know what works and what doesn't. The Las Vegas incident and others like it prove the value of the bystander: the untrained who controlled bleeding, the drivers who transported numerous patients in their own vehicles, the con- cert-goers who carried the injured away from the scene. The science doesn't lie: Just as research proves the importance of bystander CPR, we know EMS can- not treat 500 instantaneous victims, and we must focus on time to definitive treatment. This is a call to educate. EMS is the helping profession; we must help the public know they will make a difference in these terrifying events. Read Tracey Loscar's column on the back page of this issue for her eloquent take on the power of the individual. Let's teach them how to Stop the Bleed. Let's teach every citizen hands-only CPR. We can't just sit by and wait for "The Big One." After all, we are a community who works together before, during and after a tragedy. We are in this together. For The Las Vegas incident and others prove the value of the bystander. For More Information Circle 16 on Reader Service Card sales@macsliftgate.com www.macsliftgate.com Ambulance Built by Excellance Inc. MACS is Making Ambulance Crews Safer with the Mac's Bariatric Ambulance Lift. With a 1,300 lbs. weight capacity the lift is prepared for any job you can roll on it. The platform is universal and will accommodate whatever equipment you choose to use. The Bumper Stow Technology makes the lift available to the ambulance crew at all times and functions as a bumper and step. Don't Strain Your Back...Go See Mac!