Local firefighters and first responders participated in special training on Wednesday aimed at learning how to identify someone with dementia.
Carmel and Noblesville fire departments are working to become the first departments in the state to require the training.
With an increasing regularity, firefighters are responding to patients suffering some form of dementia.
“We really are,” said Carmel Fire Department public information officer Tim Griffin. “And one of the big key factors is the aging population, the boomers, we have this aging population and the numbers are staggering at the amount of people this will affect or is affecting now.”
Every day the Carmel Fire Department encounters someone with dementia. The increase has prompted the department to create a PSA on how others can spot signs that a person with dementia may be in trouble in their community.