Anderson County Earns First Tactical EMS Training Center

The Anderson County EMS & Special Operations Division has recently been certified as the nation’s first Tactical Emergency Casualty Care Community Training Center. TECC is the newest standard in caring for victims of trauma.  Personnel from EMS, fire and law enforcement, along with hospital and emergency management gathered for three days of intensive training in methods of response to mass casualty incidents and trauma care. Attendees came from Anderson, Abbeville and Greenville, and included a MUSC student from Ireland. This training was funded through a grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services and administered by SC DHEC’s Public Health Preparedness program. 

Anderson County’s EMS and Special Operations Division was awarded this grant to increase the Upstate Region’s readiness and ability to respond to disasters and mass casualty incidents. In additional to funding the course, the $113,000 grant allowed for the purchase of a trailer, complete with mass casualty equipment needed for disaster response and care of victims during incidents beyond day-to-day emergencies. 

“Anderson County is proud to have once again taken the first step in preparing our local first responders to meet the needs of residents in the event of a major medical emergency,” said Anderson County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn. “I want to thank all of those who gave of their time and talents to prepare themselves and to equip others to meet medical emergencies that should arise in our community. Our county is fortunate to have dedicated first responders who seek out every opportunity to sharpen their skills and maintain a state of readiness in order to make Anderson County and the Upstate a safer place to live.”

“We have not only advanced our training and equipment to prepare our team for the possibility of any major incident,” said Anderson County EMS & Special Operations Division Chief Scott Stoller.  “We are also better capable of effectively managing daily incidents that produce the possibility or actuality of more patients than immediate response capabilities can handle.” 

“Our goal is to be a resource for the Upstate and beyond,” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns. “Attaining this certification wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of dedicated staff that are vigilant in seeking out available educational and grant opportunities. With the distinction of being named the first TECC community training center in the nation, our initial group of instructors stands ready to work with organizations and agencies in communities across the Upstate to provide training opportunities that will help our region be prepared for the unthinkable.” 

“Regionalization is very important to us, continued Stoller.  “Having a common set of goals and protocols allows us to work together better, safer and more efficiently. Our goal is to reach out and share what we have learned by offering training courses to public safety personnel in the Upstate and to adapt it to schools, industry and other locations where this latest trauma training may help save a life.”

For information about Anderson County EMS & SO TECC Community Training Center and training opportunities, contact Chief Scott Stoller, Director

Anderson County EMS & SO

200 Bleckley Street

Anderson, SC 29625

Phone: 864.209.1101

Email: sstoller@acems.us