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Photo by Deni Michele Goldman. A police K9 and handler provided demonstrations to Westwood Fire/EMS members being trained in Nero's Law.
By Deni Michele Goldman
Within the last week, nearly a dozen members of Westwood’s Fire/EMS participated in training that allows EMTs to provide assessment, treatment and transport of Police K9s injured in the line of duty.
Westwood’s EMS training, which was organized by Westwood Fire Department’s EMS Coordinator, Chris Marcinkevicius, was held in the Westwood Police Department’s Jaillet Community Room, and was conducted by a trained volunteer team consisting of MVMA Board Member and practicing licensed MA Veterinarian, Dr. Sandy Higgins, DVM, and Veterinary Assistant Deni Goldman [who is also the Dedham (and currently Westwood) Animal Control Officer], and Massachusetts State Police Sergeant David Stucenski and his partner, K9 Zekk. Sergeant Stucenski and K9 Zekk have assisted with over sixty Nero’s Law trainings across the state this year.
Photo by Deni Michele Goldman. Two participants in the Nero's Law training practice on tactical operations K9 manikin.Nero’s Law was enacted in response to a line-of-duty shooting in 2018 that killed Yarmouth Police Sergeant Sean Gannon and severely injured his K9 partner, Nero. At that time, emergency medical personnel were not permitted to treat Nero’s critical injuries.
The hands-on 1.5-hour training covered all of the necessary steps performed in priority lifesaving measures (for police K9s), including massive hemorrhage control, airway, breathing, circulation, and hypothermia, as well restraint & handling, and CPR and BLS specific to dogs.
Earlier this year, under the recommendation of the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA), Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Ambulance Association and the Fire Chief’s Association of Massachusetts, the MA Office of Emergency Medical Services pushed the implementation compliance deadline to February 10, 2024. This was done to ensure that the thousands of EMS personnel in Massachusetts who must comply with the training, are afforded adequate time to do so.
Photo by Deni Michele Goldman. Participants in Nero's Law training join with their tactical operations K9 manikin for a picture.Not only have Westwood EMS members completed the state-required Nero’s Law training, but they have helped to raise awareness that police k9s are considered respected members of the police department and deserve to be afforded emergency medical care in an unfortunate incident within which they are harmed.
Thanks to Deni Michelle Goldman for contributing this article to Westwood Minute. Ms. Goldman is an Animal Control Officer and Inspector of Animals for the Westwood Police Department and Dedham Police Department.
