By EMS1 Staff
JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. — Johnson county’s Med-Act is training more paramedics to handle SWAT responsibilities due to an increase in the number of SWAT calls emergency responders are receiving.
According to 41 KSHB Kansas City, the number of calls Med-Act receives has jumped from 60 in 2016 to close to 80 calls in 2017 and 2018. The jump is large compared to the 40 annual SWAT and tactical paramedic calls between 1991 and 2015.
The increase in has prompted officials to train more tactical paramedics. The goal is to have 12 additional tactical paramedics on staff by the end of September.
Tactical paramedics in Jonson County wear body armor and helmets but do not carry weapons.