Carson City responders train to reduce struck-by traffic deaths

As a way to keep first responders safer at traffic incidents, officers from the Sheriff’s Department and the Nevada Highway Patrol held multiple training sessions for public safety officers last week.

Many officials are killed at traffic scenes from being struck by vehicles while performing traffic stops or clearing a traffic accident. The National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training Program is a federally mandated program designed to help first responders keep things more efficient and safe at traffic incidents. The goal is to help responders stay safe, learn about quick scene clearance, and have prompt and reliable communication.

“We are doing this to keep everyone safe,” Scott McDaniel, Carson City Patrol Sgt. said.

With nearly 77 police officers, firefighters and tow operators killed each year from struck-by deaths, the U.S. government has mandated at least 10 percent of all public safety officials must attend this training. Individuals from the Sheriff’s Department, the Fire Department, dispatch, EMT, Public Works, Towing and Recover and other agencies trained for about two hours through powerpoint presentations, discussions and demonstrations that went through lessons such as how a traffic roadblock should be structured, terminology, and command responsibilities in order to teach everyone about how a scene should be handled for maximum efficiency for all agencies involved.

“It is mainly about working together,” said Sgt. Chris Greb from the Highway Patrol. “It is a fusion between the agencies.”

The training was held Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at Fire Station 1 and had members of dispatch, the Sheriff’s Office, the Fire Departments, EMT and Department of Corrections.