This press release was featured on EMS World, JEMS, and EMS1.  It was also later picked up by Fox 8 News in New Orleans for a video feature.

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NEW ORLEANS, LA: The New Orleans Emergency Medical Services Foundation (The Foundation) donated six active shooter kits to New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS) after receiving a grant from Hermes Beyond the Parade (Hermes BTP).  The grant, which was awarded in January, combines donations from Krewe of Hermes members as well as an anonymous donor.

The value of the grant was just over $24,000.

This donation will triple the number of sprint trucks within the NOEMS fleet that carry an active shooter kit at all times, better preparing employees to respond when needed.  The decision by NOEMS to respond to the “warm zone” of an active shooter scene mirrors a paradigm shift happening within EMS organizations across the country.

As Cedric Palmisano, the Deputy Chief of Special Operations and Logistics explained, “we need to be putting the lives of the public ahead of our own lives.  It’s a new way of thinking for EMS, but that’s the way it has to be.”

Although NOEMS has specially trained tactical paramedics that respond to the “hot zones” with New Orleans Police Department’s SWAT team, this donation will allow street-level employees access to the ballistic protection needed to treat and remove patients from a dangerous scene.

Each kit contains the following gear:

• Two level IV ballistic vests
• Two ballistic helmets
• Two active shooter bags containing medical and triage supplies:
  • Combat Application Tourniquets
  • HyFin vent compact chest seals
  • Quik Clot combat gauze
  • Smart triage and black tags
  • Chem Lights (green, red, or white)
  • Bandages and airway equipment
  • One Cordura litter

The active shooter bags were specially designed by Mr. Palmisano in conjunction with 5.11 Tactical.  Mr. Palmisano’s experience as an Army medic provided him with the background knowledge necessary to recognize what equipment and supplies NOEMS employees will need during an active shooter response.

NOEMS aims to eventually have one kit per ambulance so that every employee will have prompt access to ballistic protection, but more immediately, they plan on upgrading the ballistic protections used by their tactical paramedics.  A fundraiser scheduled for late September, Krewes for Karnival, aims to raise enough to assist in purchasing the latter.

The Foundation is grateful to Hermes BTP for recognizing the increasing dangers faced by prehospital first responders.  Although it is our hope that these kits are never used, we recognize the growing need for this type of equipment and are honored to have the opportunity to provide it to the employees of NOEMS.

Hermes BTP distributed similar grants to The New Orleans Police Department and the Police and Justice Foundation, allowing for the purchase of a new bomb detection and apprehension canine, as well as 50 new crime cameras, respectively.