In light of several recent mass shootings, including in Colorado and Virginia, Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS personnel took part in training exercises on how to respond in those situations. Ray Hennequant has been a firefighter for nine years.On Thursday, he admitted he never thought he would have to train to respond to the scene of an active shooter.”A little bit out of our comfort zone, from our usual,” Hennequant said.His victim, a life-like mannequin, is critically injured. The seconds are crucial as this team of first responders try to manage the wounds and save its life. This is one of several scenarios happening throughout the building on Urton lane, part of the rescue task force training. Captain Gary Grassi is the field training officer.”The goal is to actually respond, provide life-saving care and evacuate our injured to local hospitals,” Grassi said. With recent mass shootings, including at Club Q in Colorado Springs and at a Walmart in Virginia, Grassi says the Battalion Chief wanted this training to happen sooner rather than later.”This training is obviously important because of current situations around the United States; Active shooter, active threat and what has been going on,” Grassi said.Because of that, Hennequant says he knows this training is critical. “Going through the motions of a stressful scenario like an active shooter would be, over time … helps inoculate to that stress level so we perform better under additional stress like that,” Hennequant told WLKY.And while he hopes they never see a mass shooting here in the area, more than 200 of his fellow peers will be certified and prepared just in case.”An old thing in the fire service is that none of us want horrible things to happen to people, we just want to be there if they do,” Hennequant said.With this certification, Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS officials can start training other departments throughout Kentucky.
In light of several recent mass shootings, including in Colorado and Virginia, Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS personnel took part in training exercises on how to respond in those situations.
Ray Hennequant has been a firefighter for nine years.
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On Thursday, he admitted he never thought he would have to train to respond to the scene of an active shooter.
“A little bit out of our comfort zone, from our usual,” Hennequant said.
His victim, a life-like mannequin, is critically injured. The seconds are crucial as this team of first responders try to manage the wounds and save its life. This is one of several scenarios happening throughout the building on Urton lane, part of the rescue task force training.
Captain Gary Grassi is the field training officer.
“The goal is to actually respond, provide life-saving care and evacuate our injured to local hospitals,” Grassi said.
With recent mass shootings, including at Club Q in Colorado Springs and at a Walmart in Virginia, Grassi says the Battalion Chief wanted this training to happen sooner rather than later.
“This training is obviously important because of current situations around the United States; Active shooter, active threat and what has been going on,” Grassi said.
Because of that, Hennequant says he knows this training is critical.
“Going through the motions of a stressful scenario like an active shooter would be, over time … helps inoculate to that stress level so we perform better under additional stress like that,” Hennequant told WLKY.
And while he hopes they never see a mass shooting here in the area, more than 200 of his fellow peers will be certified and prepared just in case.
“An old thing in the fire service is that none of us want horrible things to happen to people, we just want to be there if they do,” Hennequant said.
With this certification, Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS officials can start training other departments throughout Kentucky.