Emergency responders band together in Palm Springs

Nearly a thousand emergency professionals gathered at the Palm Springs Convention Center to work hand-in-hand and prepare for the worst at the California Fire EMS Disaster Conference, known as CFED West, on Tuesday.

“This is our eighth annual, it seems like there’s been another disaster that challenges public safety,” said fire Captain Joshua Stapleton.

Joshua said in the wake of tragedy in Oklahoma, the conference couldn’t come at a better time.

“It touches a spot in our hearts. We see this with our job when someone dies and we can’t save them. It’s hard to see our brothers and sisters going through that in Oklahoma right now,” said Stapleton.

The expo featured the fastest, smartest and latest technology that better equips first responders to ultimately save lives, including automative CPR devices.

“It allows them to give good CPR on patients and allows them to focus on the patient themselves,” said Tony Roberts, of Physio-Control, about the automative compression devices.

Stapleton said tablet computers help him provide reliable communication under difficult conditions and harsh environments.

“Having wireless, it allows us to give information and provides transporters to the hospital.”

Stapleton said in any tragedy it’s about “bringing the team together.”