TEMS: Tactical Emergency Medical Support

In 1999, the Littleton Fire Rescue Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) team was formed.

The goal of TEMS is to assign its members to Littleton Police Department (SWAT) operations for the enhancement and accomplishment of their primary mission. Missions include, but are not limited to:

• Hostage situations;
• Acts of terrorism;
• Warrant service;
• Dignitary protection;
• Civil unrest;
• Assist with other tactical teams.

The TEMS team brings advanced medical treatment into areas previously too perilous for less equipped EMS medics. Each TEMS medic is equipped with a tactical vest and helmet, medical supplies and specialized training.

SWAT training includes, but is not limited to:

• Less lethal weapon training
• Cold weather exercise
• Searching scenarios
• Vehicle assaults
• Range training
• Dignitary protection

TEMS training:

• Cold weather medical
• Incident command
• Forcible entry with fire department tools
• Burn building and SCBA training for police officers
• Hyperthermia/environmental medicine
• HazMat decontamination for police officers
• Wound ballistics
• Sensory overload/deprivation medical assessment

Some of the objectives of the T.E.M.S. team are:

• To provide aid to sick and injured citizens and victims within the tactical arena.
• To reduce illness, injury, and death among SWAT team members during missions and training.
• To act as a liaison between SWAT members and other fire or EMS responders including hospital personnel.

All TEMS member must complete a Counter Narcotics Tactical Operations Medical Support (CONTOMS) basic training program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense. This is a rigorous 56-hour class covering SWAT tactics and EMS in the SWAT action environment. Each member is required to attend no less than 75 percent of all training. At a minimum, members are required 8 hours per month of SWAT and TEMS training with the Littleton Police Department SWAT team. Littleton TEMS are also members of NTOA (National Tactical Officers Association), and RMTTA (Rocky Mountain Tactical Team Association).