City of Carlsbad SWAT medics are firefighter/paramedics on special assignment working alongside the City of Carlsbad Police Department SWAT team and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Enforcement Detail (SED). SWAT medics also provide support to various task forces, and both local and federal law enforcement agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Secret Service.

SWAT medics have been specifically selected, tactically trained and equipped with the same uniform and protective equipment as SWAT police officers. SWAT Medics attend all SWAT trainings such as the SWAT academy, Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) and other specialty medical training. This allows them to maintain familiarity with all firearms and devices deployed by SWAT officers, as well as providing standby medical support.

At least two SWAT medics are deployed to a SWAT mission. As full-time firefighter/paramedics, SWAT medics provide all firefighting, rescue, forcible entry and hazardous materials response expertise and skills. SWAT medics are advanced life support medical personnel and are also integrated into the local EMS system to provide and coordinate continuous medical care to an officer, victim or suspect from the site of the injury to the hospital.

SWAT medics may participate in both mission planning and risk assessment. They may be assigned as fire/EMS liaison officers to the police incident commander. They may also provide mission briefing information regarding identifiable medical hazards, local EMS, air ambulance and specialized hospital facilities. SWAT medics participate in post-incident debriefings and submit written reports when necessary.

SWAT medics are also considered subject matter experts when it comes to Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC)- a specialized medical care algorithm designed by the military to deal with combat and violence related injuries. They are routinely sought out for their expertise to teach the basics of traumatic injury care from violent incidents to law enforcement and other fire agencies, citizen groups and schools.