The Lakeland Fire Department (LFD) was awarded a generous grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, for the purchase of 16 helmet and vest sets to protect firefighter/medics in dangerous situations. The gear is intended to be used by the department’s firefighters as part of its new firefighter Rescue Task Force (RTF). The task force will be made up of trained LFD emergency responders, and the protective gear will allow them to treat patients in active shooter and hostile environment response (ASHER) conditions. This new gear will allow department firefighters to deploy with armed law enforcement officers during ASHER situations; firefighters will not be armed. The protective gear will be worn by firefighter/medics during initial emergency medical response when they are treating and removing patients from warm zones, prior to patients being moved to safer triage and transport areas during active shooter situations.
The new gear is valued at approximately $15,373. The grant has helped with the formation of this new task force, which LFD has supplemented with a contribution of 16 tactical medical equipment bags and extensive training for personnel. The training, which is currently in development, is anticipated for deployment in Fall 2020. The training will focus on proper gear and medical equipment use, as well as medical techniques in and high danger/stress situations.
This initiative was born from a national trend of violent active shooter and hostile environment situations. The Lakeland Fire Department prides itself on being prepared to provide exceptional emergency response services in a variety of circumstances. The grant was applied for in 2019 and awarded in early 2020. The grant was one of 67 Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation awarded to public safety organizations across the country during the most recent grant application period.