CAMBRIDGE, MA (WBZ-AM) – Police and firefighters from Cambridge, Harvard and MIT gathered Thursday for the latest in a series of "active shooter training" drills
it used to be that fire-fighters and EMTs could not go into a scene until police deemed it 100-percent safe. Now, these departments aim to get medical help to victims far sooner than in the past.
Fire Captain Jeremy Walsh said they go in with police protection after the initial police responders believe the threat it contained.
"The thought years ago of sending paramedics and firefighters into scenes like this is unheard of but it's becoming more of a trend...there is inherent danger of whether going into a burning building or into a scene of violence, we understand that danger when we take the job," Walsh said.
In Thursday’s drill two victims had to be carried out and one was able to walk.
All were cleared in 5 minutes.
A fourth victim was deceased and had to be left behind until the entire scene was contained.
WBZ NewsRadio1030’s Lana Jones reports.