Location:

TBA

Presenters:

Corbin Hyland

Summary:

This presentation examines EMS performance during the Carowinds Active Violence Full-Scale Exercise, highlighting both strong clinical execution and critical operational gaps encountered in a complex, multi-agency, warm-zone environment. Participants will walk through the scenario, analyze real-world challenges such as unclear zone control, breakdowns in communication, unsafe patient movement, and gaps in Rescue Task Force coordination, and connect these issues to responder safety and patient outcomes. The session emphasizes that while EMS demonstrated strong triage, treatment, and adaptability, system-level failures—not clinical skills—posed the greatest risks. Attendees will leave with practical, field-applicable strategies to improve decision-making, strengthen interagency coordination, and enhance readiness for active violence and mass casualty incidents.

Objectives:

1. Analyze EMS performance during the Carowinds Active Violence Exercise to identify key strengths, operational gaps, and safety risks in warm-zone response environments.
2. Apply lessons learned from the exercise to improve decision-making related to triage, patient movement, zone awareness, and Rescue Task Force Operations in active violences incidents.
3. Evaluate current agency capabilities - including communication, coordination, and PPE readiness and identify actionable strategies to enhance EMS preparedness for active violence and mass casualty incidents.