Mayor Stephen Zanni and Chief Joseph E. Solomon are pleased to announce that the Methuen Police Department completed a rescue sled training this month.
Throughout the month of March, all members of the Methuen Police Department participated in four hours of Med Sled training, where officers learned how to work as a team to remove victims of a mass casualty or active shooter situation and load patients safely onto portable rescue sleds.
Med Sleds, developed by ARC Products, were created in response to a growing need for a viable, cost-effective and efficient transport system for evacuating non-ambulatory patients to ensure that no one is left behind. The sleds are designed to let first responders move quickly to secure patients and evacuate them safer and more quickly than other devices.
“The Methuen Police Department has always made sure that officers have the most up-to-date tools to do their job efficiently and effectively,” Mayor Zanni said. “These new sleds will allow them to improve their ability to rescue patients that may be unable to walk or move.”
Methuen Police purchased 10 Med Sled Tactical Rescue Sleds, which are six inches shorter in width than the standard Med Sled, allowing for easy deployment and rapid evacuation as well as giving the occupant the freedom to use their hands, if able, during an evacuation.
“We want our officers to be prepared to respond to any kind of emergency, and this training provided them with the skills and resources they need to easily transport non-ambulatory victims,” Chief Solomon said. “While we hope we won’t have to use these new sleds very often, our officers will be equipped to save more lives with this new training.”
The new rescue sleds will be placed in all primary patrol SUVs and will be available to all patrol officers on the street in the event of a mass casualty situation.
