As the number of active shooter/active assailant incidents continues to rise, nurses and other front-line personnel need to be more aware than ever of how to handle patient care in these volatile situations. At Emergency Nursing 2024, attendees can learn about the rescue task force, one of the newest concepts to improve the transition of care in active assailant situations, at the session “The Prehospital Response to Active Assailant Incidents: The Rescue Task Force Concept” on Sept. 5 from 9:45-10:15 a.m. in Titian 2301.
The latest FBI data for 2023 indicates there were 48 active shooter incidents last year, representing a 60 percent increase from 2019. From 2019-2023 there were 229 total active shooter incidents, representing an 89 percent increase from the previous five-year period.
Steve Weinman, MSc, RN, CEN, TCRN, NHDP-BC, EMT
Presenter Steve Weinman, MSc, RN, CEN, TCRN, NHDP-BC, EMT, will detail the beginnings of the RTF concept, which came about following the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007. Although the concept has been around since then, “it’s only seen more widescale implementation in the last five to seven years,” said Weinman. The main conceit of the strategy is getting medical attention to victims on-site faster, while still ensuring the safety of medical personnel.
Weinman will also discuss the potential role of bystanders in assisting with on-site care. The RTF strategy incorporates the American College of Surgeons’ Stop the Bleed training, which prepares individuals on how to stop bleeding in a severely injured person. “They’re always looking for more people to do the training, especially nurses,” said Weinman.
Trauma care is Weinman’s professional specialty and personal passion. He is currently the trauma education and injury prevention program coordinator at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey, but has experience in both hospital-based and pre-hospital care over the last 25 years. For the last 10 years, he has specialized in tactical EMS training and education. Weinman also serves as the EMS bureau chief and rescue task force coordinator in the Office of Emergency Management for Somerset County in New Jersey. In addition, Weinman is the immediate past chair of the ENA Trauma Committee, a current member of the New Jersey ENA State Council Trauma Advisory Committee, and trauma section editor for the Journal of Emergency Nursing.