Medics crucial part of SWAT teams.

Byline: Jerome Burdi

Sep. 15--These fire-rescue paramedics fight blazes, and pack heat.

In Palm Beach County, SWAT medics can double as police officers. They go through the police academy, carry a Glock handgun and wear paramilitary green uniforms with ballistic vests. It's a special breed of firefighters who take on this role, which is not so different from being a combat medic at war. "You've got to be able to do several emergency procedures," said the retired John Hagg, a Sheriff's Office SWAT medic for nearly two decades. "You wouldn't want to have a new medic trying to figure out how to cut somebody's throat to put a tube in to breathe for them." …