Rafael Comas, a supervisor with Rural/Metro Corp., said he can recall "detail by detail, second by second" what went through his head during the early morning hours as his crews responded to the scene at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
- Rural/Metro Corp. is a private emergency transportation organization
- Rural/Metro transported 14 patients during the Pulse shooting
Rural/Metro is a private ambulance organization that provides emergency services in the Orlando area. Comas, who was one of hundreds of first responders who responded to the scene, spoke Monday during a news conference at Rural/Metro's regional headquarters located on Old Winter Garden Road in west Orange County.
Rural/Metro paramedics and EMTs transported 14 patients from Pulse to area hospitals. It was an experience first responders will never forget. About 100 Rural/Metro personnel ended up assisting in the mass shooting, the company said.
The company is crediting a mass casualty shooting drill back in March at the Mall at Millenia in Orlando for preparing the company to save lives during the aftermath of the Pulse shooting.
"It was very, very traumatic and very stressful, but we're trained for that," Comas said. "We put ourselves in that type of training so that we can respond correctly in these situations."
Paramedics said the ordeal has brought them closer together, and they are planning to share their experience with other agencies across the country.