Seconds matter: Dual-trained Hoke County deputies can treat injured under fire in active shooter situations

Getting medical help during an active shooting situation can quickly save lives, but it’s not always possible.

It’s why the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office now has two deputies certified as medics. Hoke County is the only county in the state to have dual-certified deputies.

Lee Black and Maria Nawotniak were both certified medics who trained to become Hoke County deputies.

"There's different things that we can help with,” Nawotniak said. “If there's something high-stressed as a shooting, and there's some way that we can get in there, secure the scene and get patient care, those seconds matter."

Nawotniak and Black’s patrol vehicles are equipped with all the tools for law enforcement, but also medical supplies to help save lives.

“Now, [we are] working with the sheriff and going forward with this program,” Black said. “We're about to combine all of that and we're able to do under the same umbrella."

Before becoming Hoke County sheriff, Roderick Virgil was and still is a flight medic. He knows an active shooter scene must be secured by law enforcement before medics can go in to help.

"With having the dual-credentialed personnel, we're able to go in and treat and care under fire,” Virgil said. “And then, we can evacuate, accordingly."

During the Feb. 14 shooting as the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebration was finishing up, only one person died when a shooting erupted. Medics on the scene responded quickly.

However, it doesn't have to be an active shooter. A person in a car crash or having a heart attack will reap the benefits of having deputies trained as medics.

"It is huge because standards state that if you have early defibrillation within four minutes, you're more likely to do a lot better with the care,” Hoke County EMS Director Scott Phillips said. “And so, them being there within two to three minutes to start that care increases our survival chances greatly."

Black and Nawotniak said they hope they’ll never have to use the training.

The deputies are certified EMTs, but Virgil said he's applied to have the state certify them as Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians. He hopes to have that certification by April 1.