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Faculty

Rory Hill

MA, BA, NRP, TP-C, FP-C
President / Developer
Goat-Trail Austere Medical Solutions

Rory Hill, MA, LP, NRP, FP-C, TP-C, is the Founder and President of Goat-Trail Austere Medical Solutions (GAMS), based in Northwestern Indiana, bringing more than 30 years of operational experience in municipal EMS, flight medicine, and high-threat medical operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He holds a Master of Arts in Emergency Management and is recognized for his expertise in tactical and austere medical care. Hill leads GAMS’ training development programs, remains clinically active as a paramedic and instructor, and continues to serve in High-Threat Protection Operations for the U.S. Department of State, contributing significantly to national advancements in tactical medicine and responder preparedness.

2026 Sessions

From Cold Zone to Hot Zone: Preparing EMS and Fire for Tactical Operations in Active Shooter Events

Active shooter events require immediate, coordinated interventions. Current EMS/fire protocols keep responders staged at a distance until a scene is formally declared “safe.” Law enforcement doctrine emphasizes rapid movement to contact to “Stop the Killing, while Rescue Task Forces (RTFs) are expected to “Stop the Dying.” The long-standing practice of delaying medical entry reflects legacy interpretations of operational risk rather than evidence-based analysis. Current threat dynamics, the speed at which casualties deteriorate, and the practical breakdown of rigid warm- and cold-zone distinctions underscore the need for EMS and fire personnel to develop tactically informed operational capabilities. EMS/fire must change the mindset from BSI-Scene safe to a crisis response that relies on responders who can move alongside law enforcement, establish casualty collection points (CCPs), and deliver point-of-injury care within dynamic, still-unfolding environments.

This presentation examines the shift from legacy staging practices to proactive tactical integration. Through case studies, doctrinal analysis, and operational mapping, the session presents a framework that empowers EMS/fire responders to safely and effectively form a Rescue Task Force (RTF) and enter hot and warm zones. The goal is not to convert all responders into SWAT medics, but to prepare them to deliver essential lifesaving interventions when seconds matter.

Speaker

Thursday, May 28 11:10–11:40 AM
Room Waller Ballroom B
Faculty

Rory Hill

MA, BA, NRP, TP-C, FP-C
President / Developer
Goat-Trail Austere Medical Solutions

Rory Hill, MA, LP, NRP, FP-C, TP-C, is the Founder and President of Goat-Trail Austere Medical Solutions (GAMS), based in Northwestern Indiana, bringing more than 30 years of operational experience in municipal EMS, flight medicine, and high-threat medical operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He holds a Master of Arts in Emergency Management and is recognized for his expertise in tactical and austere medical care. Hill leads GAMS’ training development programs, remains clinically active as a paramedic and instructor, and continues to serve in High-Threat Protection Operations for the U.S. Department of State, contributing significantly to national advancements in tactical medicine and responder preparedness.
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