On March 27-28, 2023 NERAC held an Active Attack Integrated Response (AAIR) training at MPTC Lynnfield for law enforcement, dispatch, and fire/EMS first responders from several mutual-aid communities in the region. Certified instructors within the NERAC region taught the AAIR curriculum, which was developed by ALERRT (www.alerrt.org) and is “designed to improve integration… in active attack/shooter events.”

Day 1 began on the afternoon of Monday, March 27th, so there was a somber moment acknowledging the attack at the Covenant School in Nashville, TN that had occurred just a few hours earlier, and reinforcing the critical reason everyone was gathered for the course.

There were students from 7 fire departments and 5 police departments, many from neighboring municipalities who would provide mutual aid if an incident occurred in any of their communities. The instructors highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary familiarity and trust for a successful response. Through classroom lessons and practical scenario exercises, the curriculum covered lifesaving medical techniques that can be used in an active attack environment, incident command and interoperability among first responders, rescue task force protocols, and much more.

This training was the first in a series of at least 3 AAIR sessions that NERAC is planning to train additional first responders.