Trauma training?

[CouchOperator]

With the spike in recent events, Im curious if there are any reputable and up-to-date classes,preferrably in Kern county, that teach treating severe trauma medicine. Im not looking for open heart surgery, but rather skills to keep stabbed/shot/shrapnel/etc victims alive until EMT's can arrive on scene. Is there any reputable schools? Hands-on requirement is a given. Thanks.

[twinfin]

You should take the Emergency Medical Technician course. It's a semester long and taught at many junior collages. Great training with plenty of hands on time and not difficult. You can take it as a pass fail course if you don't want to mess with getting certified with the National Registry after taking the course.

[CouchOperator]

You should take the Emergency Medical Technician course. It's a semester long and taught at many junior collages. Great training with plenty of hands on time and not difficult. You can take it as a pass fail course if you don't want to mess with getting certified with the National Registry after taking the course.

Thats not bad at all. Whats the general cost, as i would rathwr avoid financial aid and just pay out of pocket like any other training class i would take.

[Skunkwrks]

EMT-1 school is great if you have the time to spare . When I went through, it was around 1k for the class and related costs. I attended UCLA's program so I'm not sure if you can find it cheaper somewhere else. You might want to check the Red Cross for other classes as well. Since taking my emt course, I've been through Combat Lifesaver, Tactical Emergency Casualty Care, and Pre-Hospital Life Support (PHTLS). Medical courses has been the most useful training I've received so far.

[SloChicken]

You should be able to find an emt class at your local community college for about $300 or so and another $100 for books, most will want u to have immunizations and insurance as well.

[thetaxman]

See what the folks at LMS Defense have running. I don't see anything listed on their schedule right now, but they often run a good medical course and the instructor for it is really good.

http://lmsdefense.com/courses.html

Go to the bottom of the page for details. Email them and ask as well.

[Hairball]

Speaking from the perspective of a retired FMF Corpsman, a basic EMT course in not going to cover much in regards to battlefield trauma if that is the main focus of your training needs. Up side, there are courses out there that expand on major trauma intervention. Down side, many require basic EMT cert to attend. Additionally, advanced trauma intervention is not only a perishable skill, continuing advances in treatment should be acquired through continuing education. One option, if you have the time, is to join a local SAR group and work in the medical unit or maybe high-angle rescue as these will help keep your skills up. Beyond that, there are plenty of books and videos that might provide you with the basics of what you need to know. As long as higher echelon care is readily available, it all comes down to ABC's and hemorrhage control. The problem occurs when no help is expected for a significant amount of time.

[wild_weasel]

Hello,

I believe this is the current Combat Lifesaver curricula, at least is was current as of my last deployment.

http://www.me.ngb.army.mil/units/rti/resources/IS0871_Edition_C_ALMS.pdf

Cheers,
W-W

[mikenewgun87]

Join the military

[badicedog]

As a civilian, there is only so much that you can do. I suggest to get proficient in CPR(it's harder to do under emergent situations), treat any bullet/trauma injuries first (apply pressure/ tourniquet and or clotting agents). Begin CPR(have personal CPR mouth barrier) you DONT want to be doing mouth to mouth on someone unless she's hot...lol and wait for EMS to show up. You can't treat a 'sucking chest wound' with a chest needle aspiration especially as a civilian. It's NOT in the scope of practice as a "good Samaritan". Just my 2 cents worth, I have over 25 years of trauma experience in the medical field...

[SloChicken]

As a civilian, there is only so much that you can do. I suggest to get proficient in CPR(it's harder to do under emergent situations), treat any bullet/trauma injuries first (apply pressure/ tourniquet and or clotting agents). Begin CPR(have personal CPR mouth barrier) you DONT want to be doing mouth to mouth on someone unless she's hot...lol and wait for EMS to show up. You can't treat a 'sucking chest wound' with a chest needle aspiration especially as a civilian. It's NOT in the scope of practice as a "good Samaritan". Just my 2 cents worth, I have over 25 years of trauma experience in the medical field...

LOL, actually, everything is in the scope under the Good Samaritan Act.
If it is done in good faith in an effort to help someone in need you won't be charged as long as not reckless or grossly negligent.
Scope of Practice only applies to those of us that are licensed, as there is no scope written or implied for "civilians" as you state.

I don't know what your trauma experience consists of, but you are certainly able to attempt chest needle decompression (not aspiration) - though I really doubt there would be much need, and even less chance of a "civilian" as you call them to have any clue of how to recognize need, how to perform the procedure, or even to know what the hell it is.

Beside, the need for chest decompression via needle is pretty low after a gunshot wound. You already have an opening - just time it with inspiration and expiration and place seal on end of expiration and before inspiration. (if you remember the procedure for an occlusive chest dressing for open chest wound you would also recall to tape 3 sides, (not all 4) so it can evacuate any air or blood upon pt expiration (as the positive pressure within the thoracic/pleural cavity will be at its highest). The dressing venting is passively evacuating. Taking off the dressing and placing at end expiration is actively decompressing - same deal, just a bit of cowboy medicine haha!
Done this more times than I ever have wanted to (plugged in a few tampons along the way as well) ...
PS, I am trained and have done many thoracic decompression techniques including both needle decompression and bilateral chest tubes to suction in the field.

That said, much of the need for needle decompression is secondary closed chest injury, and not open injury as a gunshot would be.
Chest tubes can be done, but are more often done to evacuate hemothorax and this can be secondary to either closed or open chest wounds - but pretty sure the "civilian" would neither know WTF, nor have the balls to do the procedure.

And that is all I have to say about that.

As for the OP. find a good "first responder"(light) or EMT course (a little more comprehensive)

I am a critical care APRN and in the field I can do little more for a patient than a good EMT can unless I have my bag of tricks with me (airway and med bags) - that is how important basic life support (i.e., EMT level) can be, and is.


Good Samaritan Doctrine in a Nutshell,

Good Samaritan Doctrine

A principle of Tort Law that provides that a person who sees another individual in imminent and serious danger or peril cannot be charged with Negligence if that first person attempts to aid or rescue the injured party, provided the attempt is not made recklessly.

The Good Samaritan doctrine is used by rescuers to avoid civil liability for injuries arising from their negligence. Its purpose is to encourage emergency assistance by removing the threat of liability for damage done by the assistance. However, the assistance must be reasonable; a rescuer cannot benefit from the Good Samaritan doctrine if the assistance is reckless or grossly negligent.

Three key elements support a successful invocation of the Good Samaritan doctrine: (1) the care rendered was performed as the result of the emergency, (2) the initial emergency or injury was not caused by the person invoking the defense, and (3) the emergency care was not given in a grossly negligent or reckless manner.

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Good+Samaritan+Doctrine

[Sam1234]

You should be able to find an emt class at your local community college for about $300 or so and another $100 for books, most will want u to have immunizations and insurance as well.

What kind of insurance would you need to take a class?

Sam

[SloChicken]

basically they will make you buy a health insurance plan (I think it covers some liability aspects) but it is to cover you getting sick, smashed in a code 3 collision, attacked by patients etc. while taking the class). Generally it will list it as part of the curriculum in a school catalog.

For instance, Here is Miramar College's EMT course this fall and associated mandatory items listed on the left of the page.
http://schedule.sdccd.edu/detail/popupdetails.cfm?
crn=75798&trm=20164&detail=1

I can't say for sure as I was an emt some 25 years ago, but I work with them often as my support team when I do ground transports and have been in and around the field for many years ... too many it seems at times ...
I just looked at the details in the link above. basically it doesn't list insurance, but it does list immunizations, TB test within past 30 days, and CPR for healthcare providers as mandatory prerequisites to taking the class.

[Catch]

Tag

[twinfin]

I am a critical care APRN and in the field I can do little more for a patient than a good EMT can unless I have my bag of tricks with me (airway and med bags) - that is how important basic life support (i.e., EMT level) can be, and is.

If I may expand on this. Even if others here in this discussion are primarily interested in trauma care for gunshot wounds, you need to have a foundation of basic emergency care to build new skills on. The Emergency Medical Technician course from a local junior college, is an excellent place to spend a semester getting that essential foundational training in emergency prehospital care.

Like Mr. Chicken points out, the basic life support interventions of the EMT-1 level care provider is the most essential starting point for taking care of any ill or injured person. Even for the Advanced Life Support trained provider, patient care always begins with the initiation of good 'ol basic life support skills and procedures learned in the EMT-1 level class.

As a trained EMT-1, you will actually have a huge amount of impact on initiating care for a seriously ill or injured person. By starting the basic interventions, the advanced interventions (when they become available) can be performed more quickly. Do not underestimate the value of competently and promptly performed basic EMT-1 level interventions performed by the first person to reach the patient whether they are paid to be there or just happen to be walking by.

This is why I think anyone wanting to really get some good emergecny medical training should make the time to spend a semester to become an EMT-1. Even if you are just an avid outdoors person with no interest in working in the field, the training is really great and you'll have fun learning something new. You'll also have gain something invaluable in a medical crisis: self confidence to manage the crisis.

Twinfin - Firefighter paramedic, retired.