The Grand Chute Fire Department partners with the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office (OUSO) Emergency
Response Team (ERT) by providing a Tactical Emergency Medical Services (TEMS) team to OUSO. The GCFD TEMS team is comprised of four GCFD paramedics of various ranks that have gone through additional specialized training to operate as armed paramedics in assignments with the ERT.
The purpose of having TEMS medics attached to the ERT is to provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) interventions like sedation, pain management, and special trauma related medication administration at the point of injury for hostages, innocent bystanders, law enforcement officers, and suspects. ERT callouts can include hostage rescues, armed and barricaded subjects, or security details.
GCFD TEMS medics train monthly with the ERT to ensure smooth operation as a resource attached to the team. This training also includes regular firearms training and qualification to the same level as State of Wisconsin law enforcement officers. During monthly ERT training, our TEMS medics have been able to present medical training and some door breaching training to the other team members. The ERT training adds over 100 additional training hours for the paramedics on top of their regular GCFD training. |
