GONZALES — Five Gonzales firefighters recently attended an Active Shooter Training to prepare them for future emergency situations.
The training opportunity arose in 2016. Called “Medical Response to Active Shooter and Mass Casualty Incidents for Fire and EMS,” the training was held at Monterey Peninsula College Public Safety Training Center.
Among the Gonzales firefighters who attended the training was Fire Engineer Matt Lopez.
“Our department, out of all the departments in attendance, was the most represented,” Lopez said.
Lopez has been part of the Gonzales Fire Department for six years and is one of two new hires in the department.
Leading the training were physicians and instructions who had experience as medics as well as a SWAT team.
“The course was directed toward assessing and treating victims with major bleeding and the complications associated,” Lopez said. “The recurring theme throughout the training was being able to help the most amount of people in the least amount of time when seconds matter most.”
According to Lopez, after completing the course each participant was given a combat medical kit.
“With this training our personnel feel better equipped mentally and materially to step forward and help when called upon,” he said.
The Gonzales Fire Department was invited to participate in an Active Shooter Drill at Northridge Mall on March 14. The training will involve fire and law enforcement agencies from Monterey to South County and is hosted by the Salinas Fire Department.
