Paul Gomez
Member In Memoriam
This is an area that has begun getting more attention in recent years and I think this is a very good thing.
FIRST: Get take a local Red Cross or OSHA 1st Aid/CPR class. Just like in shooting, it's the basics of 1st aid that are critical. Then, take a specialized class geared towards 'Care Under Fire'.
SECOND: Understand the problem.
If you carry a gun, you can probably envision a situation where you might need to use it, right?
If you can envision a situation where you use your gun, can you imagine someone getting shot in that situation? Probably so.
Potentially, you or someone you care about, could get shot in that situation, couldn't they?
What do you do? Activating the EMS system is great and should be done, but what is the response time in your area for EMS? Also, what are their protocols when responding to a 'shots fired' call? Generally, it's 'sit back and wait until the cops tell us it is safe' before they enter the scene.
How long does it take for an arterial bleed to render you unconscious?
How long does it take for an untreated tension pneumothorax to become fatal?
Oh, and, what about the skel who did this to you? Is he down? Is he still up and moving? Is he still an active threat? Just because you took a round or two doesn't mean you get to stop the fight and request a do-over.
This situation is what is referred to in the military Tactical Combat Casulaty Care doctrine as "Care Under Fire" and this is the 'worse-case' medical scenario for us.
You have a threat to deal with, or at least keep covered. And you have to render aid to yourself or parner to give EMS a live body to work on. If you cannot provide immediate, on-scene treatment, EMS becomes a corpse transporting service.
THIRD: What are the likely injuries and how do we deal with them.
Bleeding - Tourniquet, Hemostatic Agents, Direct Pressure, Field Dressing
PneumoThorax - Occlusive dressing
Tension Pneumothorax - Needle Decompression!!
Airway Obstruction - HeadTilt/ChinLift and Nasopharyngeal airway
Four of the most common life-threatening injuries can be addressed at this stage. The treatments are not the common EMS answers because of the particulars of the situation. However, they become viable due to the situation.
FOURTH: How do you treat the injuries? By getting the requisite training and then by maintaining a personnal BlowOut Kit with you to ensure that you have the basic tools necessary to be able to render aid for a GSW.
FIRST: Get take a local Red Cross or OSHA 1st Aid/CPR class. Just like in shooting, it's the basics of 1st aid that are critical. Then, take a specialized class geared towards 'Care Under Fire'.
SECOND: Understand the problem.
If you carry a gun, you can probably envision a situation where you might need to use it, right?
If you can envision a situation where you use your gun, can you imagine someone getting shot in that situation? Probably so.
Potentially, you or someone you care about, could get shot in that situation, couldn't they?
What do you do? Activating the EMS system is great and should be done, but what is the response time in your area for EMS? Also, what are their protocols when responding to a 'shots fired' call? Generally, it's 'sit back and wait until the cops tell us it is safe' before they enter the scene.
How long does it take for an arterial bleed to render you unconscious?
How long does it take for an untreated tension pneumothorax to become fatal?
Oh, and, what about the skel who did this to you? Is he down? Is he still up and moving? Is he still an active threat? Just because you took a round or two doesn't mean you get to stop the fight and request a do-over.
This situation is what is referred to in the military Tactical Combat Casulaty Care doctrine as "Care Under Fire" and this is the 'worse-case' medical scenario for us.
You have a threat to deal with, or at least keep covered. And you have to render aid to yourself or parner to give EMS a live body to work on. If you cannot provide immediate, on-scene treatment, EMS becomes a corpse transporting service.
THIRD: What are the likely injuries and how do we deal with them.
Bleeding - Tourniquet, Hemostatic Agents, Direct Pressure, Field Dressing
PneumoThorax - Occlusive dressing
Tension Pneumothorax - Needle Decompression!!
Airway Obstruction - HeadTilt/ChinLift and Nasopharyngeal airway
Four of the most common life-threatening injuries can be addressed at this stage. The treatments are not the common EMS answers because of the particulars of the situation. However, they become viable due to the situation.
FOURTH: How do you treat the injuries? By getting the requisite training and then by maintaining a personnal BlowOut Kit with you to ensure that you have the basic tools necessary to be able to render aid for a GSW.