The Scott County Regional Authority has awarded a grant of $5,600 to the Davenport Fire Department for protective gear to be utilized during an active shooter situation.
Davenport Fire Training Officer, District Chief Robb Macdougall says the $5,600 grant covered the full cost of purchasing ballistic helmets and armored vests for six firefighters.
The new gear provided by the SCRA, will protect against high velocity rifle rounds and allows firefighters to have a greater degree of safety when operating in potentially hostile environments, according to Chief Macdougall.
“The grant for the purchase of this protective gear is very valuable to the Davenport Fire Department,” District Chief Macdougall said in announcing the grant. “The grant allows the department to provide this critical service much sooner than expected."
In recent years, the National Fire Protection Agency recognized the importance of the Rescue Task Force (RTF) model by fast-tracking the creation of a standard to address the issue of active shooter incidents. With this grant and purchase of equipment, Davenport Fire Department addresses the goals of this standard.
During an active shooter situation, the typical RTF model has the fire department joining with police command to form a unit. The unit is a minimum of two police officers and two firefighters that enter a building to help the wounded during an active shooter situation. In the past, medical providers would wait until police units cleared every room in the entire building, which could take hours before entering. The RTF allows firefighters to go in much earlier to treat the wounded and remove them from the building for further treatment. The firefighters wear body armor and have police protection as they enter areas of the building that are deemed reasonably safe, but not completely cleared. The firefighters/medical personnel provide rapid care for serious bleeding, collapsed lung, or a closed airway while in the building with the goal of getting the patient to the hospital in a timely manner.