| Recent shootings in the United States have made it | | | | importance of the other. |
| clear that civil authorities and hospitals in particular | | | | The police realize that they will most likely be the |
| cannot stop planning for crisis situations. The latest | | | | ones first to respond to a violent crisis. They practice |
| shooting at an immigration center only demonstrates | | | | scenarios in many different places: schools, |
| that a massive violent crime can take place | | | | independent retirement living centers, shopping malls, |
| anywhere. We can only hope that the hospitals and | | | | city halls, theaters, etc. As part of their practice they |
| their trauma centers in the vicinity of the immigration | | | | coordinate their response with the fire department |
| center were properly prepared to help the wounded | | | | and their ambulances, and finally with the local |
| and the families in turmoil. All civil authorities and | | | | hospitals. |
| hospitals, be they out East, or in the great state of | | | | The fire departments of the Chicago land area know |
| Illinois, must maintain a high level of alert and | | | | that the threat for an attack in a metropolitan area is |
| readiness. A properly prepared trauma center will be | | | | very real. As the second group to respond to a crisis |
| the most helpful part of a civil authority's reaction to | | | | their job is as difficult as the police. The fire |
| a violent crisis. | | | | department may have to wait for the police to give |
| Throughout the greater Chicago area police and fire | | | | them the all clear; therefore, victims in a crisis may |
| departments work with local hospitals to stay | | | | be waiting an abnormal amount of time. The fire |
| prepared. They depend on many people, like the | | | | department's response must be precise and as quick |
| Chicago south west suburbs physicians to control a | | | | as possible. Victims will need to be treated without |
| bad situation. These groups meet regularly | | | | mistakes in as quick of a manner as possible. The |
| throughout the year to check their level of | | | | hospitals in Chicago area are depending on the fire |
| preparedness. Each organization knows the vital | | | | department's total professional response. |