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Medic services restored to Pa. tactical response team

An area hospital will provide medics for the team who specialize in responding to high-risk warrants and barricaded gunmen

By Candy Woodall
The York Dispatch

YORK COUNTY, Pa. — The York County Quick Response Team was left without tactical medics when WellSpan York Hospital ended its EMS services last year.

For the last three months of 2013, the team’s medical support was an ambulance at a staging area a mile from the scene.

It was the first time in the team’s history it relied on a traditional ambulance service, said Craig Losty, tactical commander for the York County team and a sergeant with the York City Police Department.

“Tactical medical isn’t just about gear. It’s a specific medical training. It’s a lot better to have a medic a few steps away than a mile away,” he said.

That’s why the Quick Response Team partnered with Memorial Hospital medics in January.

County commissioners on Wednesday finalized an agreement with hospital owners to pay the medics $33 per hour for the time they spend with the team.

The money will come out of the Quick Response Team’s budget and pays for only the hours the medics spend with the team. It does not pay their salary or benefits.

A handful of medics from Memorial Hospital help with the team.

They are fully equipped in tactical gear, but they are not armed with weapons, Losty said.

Drills, too: The medics attend QRT drills and practices because sometimes team members are injured during those times as well.

For example, during a recent drill in which the team broke through windows, someone was cut by glass.

“A medic was right there to stitch him up,” Losty said. “They’re there for anything we may need during a call.”

The medics would also treat any victims or suspects at a scene, he said.

York County’s Quick Response Team is typically asked to respond to calls about barricaded gunmen and high-risk warrants, Losty said.

They also assist with hostage rescue and dignitary protection. For example, the county’s QRT served as sniper protection when Vice President Joe Biden made a campaign stop at West York High School two years ago.

“We stay busy,” Losty said.

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©2014 The York Dispatch (York, Pa.)