Not looking to become an EMT or Paramedic, but I was wondering if the professionals here could give some input as to what kind of training might be available for first responders that topics beyond what Red Cross offers in their first responder training? Things like what to do for sucking chest wounds, venting a chest, traumatic wounds, GSWs, etc. Looking for something along the lines of actual classes, not the Joe Blo on YouTube stuff.
I continue to be amazed at the fascination with sucking chest wounds :rolleyes:
I wouldn’t worry about those particular injuries. A first responder has no business doing anything with those injuries other than slapping a bandage on, maybe applying pressure to stop obvious bleeding, and calling an ambulance. Assessing and treating injuriy of that severity is well beyond the training and education of a first responder. If you think there it is likely you’ll ever have to deal with that stuff, become a Paramedic. Otherwise, leave it alone. Basic first aid is all you need.
Red Cross training is not what it used to be 20+ yrs ago.
Now they rely a lot on computer based training and are more concerned with profit than training. Sad
I was very disappointed when I tried to take a CPR class a few yrs ago.
Here is two off the top of my head;
Sig offers a class called Bullets & Bandages. Its 3 days long and it is on my list to take.
https://www.sigsaueracademy.com/productdisplay/bullets-and-bandages-i
Dark Angel also offers one.
https://darkangelmedical.com/training/
Just thinking ahead with all this stuff going on here in Va. Even beyond that, with all the shootings going on anymore, I think it is a good idea to have some knowledge of how to treat traumatic injuries like GSWs to be able to help in a meaningful way if needed.
Yea, I have RC training every year and have nightmares about the CPR video for weeks after. Thanks for those links.
Not sure what area you’re in, but I just finished taking Greg Ellifritz’s Tactical First Aid & System Collapse Medicine class for the second time. It’s 8 hours in the classroom with practical application for the trauma portion. I attended one in the Columbus area, but he teaches all over Ohio and a little bit in the Culpeper, VA area. https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/available-classes
My friend Ben from Onsight Firearms Training has this class listed in September in the Pittsburgh area: https://www.facebook.com/events/497723300855772/ He also occasionally teaches in Virginia.
Look at TECC (civilian version of TCCC) and Wilderness First Responder.
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Also look for a local Stop the Bleed class next time they come around. I took one at North American Rescue’s HQ last year, and it covered tourniquet use, wound packing, and penetrating chest wounds. We got to practice all of those things, which was nice to get some hands on time.
Caleb Causey is a friend, and runs Lone Star Medics.
https://www.lonestarmedics.com/services
I have done multiple classes with him, and he is practical and a good instructor.
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Locally, we run a trauma symposium that is always well received and enlightening.
No. Trying to treat injured humans with “some” knowledge is never a good idea. Either get advanced training, or carry a cell phone, an ABD bandage, and leave injured humans to the people who are trained to take care of them.
dupe …
Completely misses the point.
NOLS Wilderness First Aid (WFA): https://www.nols.edu/en/coursefinder/courses/wilderness-first-aid-WFA/
NOLS Wilderness First Responder (WFR): https://www.nols.edu/en/coursefinder/courses/wilderness-first-responder-WFR/
Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) has similar products, https://www.wildmed.com/, but I am a NOLS alum.
“Wilderness” med is not exclusive to the austere, and provides a credible, accessible, functional level of ability that is useful in a variety of applications. The WFA is the shorter, cheaper, and simpler, but substantially more useful than a typical community first-aid course. The WFR is a deeper dive, but similarly more useful (and marketable).
As brother Serious pointed out, Caleb Causey offers excellent products for a variety of contexts.
Ditto… out where I live, the nearest real hospital is at least 1 hour away… and that is on a normal day. It’s bad enough that literally about every day a life flight helicopter is landing at the local high school to evacuate someone to a hospital for treatment. They are working on getting the hospital back into the area, but it is a slow process.
I’ve work in a penitentiary for 17 years now. I’ve seen traumatic injuries from inmates fighting with about everything you can imagine. The Red Cross training doesn’t even touch what I’ve seen. There are medical staff here, and they do a good job. My thoughts about getting training on this stuff is for any situation that might occur when the SHTF and proper medical treatment isn’t an option for a while. I would want to at least have some knowledge that would help not just myself but someone else to be able to be stabilized long enough to make it to proper treatment if it might take a while.
PS- Thanks to everyone who posted up the links. Hopefully I can find one close by. I’m out in Southwestern Virginia… yes there is more to VA past Roanoke! Lol…
Start with Stop the Bleed and go from there. Almost no one needs a TCCC class. The info is irrelevant for 99% of people. Look on ASHI/MEDIC for associated first aid and trauma classes. Basic first aid and STB will cover just about every possible scenario.
So get some real actual training. These are perishable skills. No place for “hobbyists”. Take it seriously or don’t do it. THAT is the point.
How close are you to Covington? I know they have done Stop the Bleed, and I believe it’s free (when I teach it, I charge, but I add a few other trauma components).
Edited to add, the only way to fix trauma is with surgery. The only things you can do to stabilize is MARCH and give blood; you ain’t gonna give blood. TQ the limb, direct pressure and cover everything else, keep the person warm, and wait for transport.
That’s what he’s asking for? Some are contributing by providing links to training. Are you implying those links are to a substandard training? Do you have information on “real” training and just not providing it? Should he go to medical school? Do you carry a gun for a living? Have you ever taken firearms training? Do you have anything helpful to direct someone to the right path? Asking for a friend…