Emergency Medical Services Response to Mass Shooting and Active Shooter Incidents United States 2014-2015

The authors examined data from 34 emergency medical services (EMS) responses to mass shooting incidents to gain a better understanding of injury types and other variables. Overall, 76% of the victims were male (80% African American); wounds were found in extremities (49%), chest (12%), and head/neck (13%). While extremity wounds were common, tourniquets were used in only 6% of cases. This finding, combined with the fact that dispatch did not notify responders of shooting incidents in nearly 16% of the cases, contributed to a call for more action and research to protect EMS.