13.USA fire department purchased body armor
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Gwinnett firefighters and paramedics will soon have body armor at their disposal, a move officials said was motivated by events like the Sandy Hook school shooting.
The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved Tuesday the fire department’s purchase of nearly $345,000 worth of body armor for personnel to wear “during violent situations.” Seemingly unorthodox on its face, spokesman Capt. Tommy Rutledge said the decision was based on an evaluation of the department’s current procedures for mass trauma incidents.
“In the majority of violent situations, fire and emergency medical personnel are forced to remain outside until law enforcement officers clear the building or hazard area,” Rutledge said in a news release. “This consumes valuable time that is critical in accessing and treating victims who are still in the hazard zone. The armor provides adequate protection for firefighters as they work with police to quickly search for, remove and treat victims.”
The need for such equipment was identified “following incidents like the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting,” during which 20 children and six adults were killed in Connecticut in 2012, Rutledge said.
At total of 293 sets of armor will be purchased at approximately $1,176.50 a piece. The money used will come from the fire department’s operating budget.
The armor will be kept on fire engines, ladder trucks, squad vehicles, ambulances, command vehicles and support units. Guidelines for use are currently being developed, Rutledge said.
The pending purchase will be the latest in a string of additions aimed at improving Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services’ response to potential large-scale incidents.
Last year, the department used a grant to purchase a mobile ambulance bus, a 15-ton truck that essentially operates like a hospital on wheels. New trauma kits boasting “bulk bandaging supplies and tourniquets” were also added to the arsenal recently.