Tactical EMS Gear

[PEKSAV]

Hello
First I'd like to say I am not in the military, and my family is eternally grateful for what you guys are doing and sacrificing for your country. God Bless You All.
This is my first entry so please be patient.
I am in Law Enforcement, an EMT-B, a SWAT Operator and have been just assigned to be our Tactical Medic.
I will be attending a U.S. Military "Combat Lifesaver" course in a couple of months, so I am looking for information on what the military uses for a Tactical Medic bag and equipment. I would like to have some of the right gear for this class. Any recommendations?
Any information would be great.
Thanks and stay safe

[unthinking]

Combat medics in my unit are issued this bag:
http://www.uscav.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=5883&utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_source=googlebase&cm_mmc=Google%20Base-_-Products-_-SF-_-V1

Combat Lifesavers service-wide are issued this bag:
http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/army_board_study_guide_topics/First_Aid/cls-bag-contents.shtml


As a civvy-side EMT-B and Army CLS, I can say the only new skills you'll be learning are IV infusion and needle-chest decompression. These are a huge part of the CLS class. Other than that, it's pretty much just Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3), i.e. tourniquets for everything.



Skills of the Combat Lifesaver

Basic casualty evaluation
Airway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airway) management
Chest injury (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chest_injury) and tension pneumothorax (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tension_pneumothorax) management
Controlling Bleeding (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleeding)
Intravenous drip (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intravenous_drip) therapy
Requesting medical evacuation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medevac)

[PEKSAV]

Unthinking,
Thanks for the great info

[Kilo1-1]

You're better off finding much more information and help here:
http://lightfighter.net/eve?s=7336015661&cdra=Y
Good luck.

[Maine Finn]

Bear in mind that even though you're going to take an Army CLS class, you're still going to have to work within the limitations of your civilian EMT license. I understand that you're going function as a tactical medic, but the chances are that not all of your potential patients are going to be fellow LEOs.

[Fintin]

Bear in mind that even though you're going to take an Army CLS class, you're still going to have to work within the limitations of your civilian EMT license. I understand that you're going function as a tactical medic, but the chances are that not all of your potential patients are going to be fellow LEOs.

So he wont need a chain-saw?

[Maine Finn]

So he wont need a chain-saw?

Not unless he has to perform emergency field surgery. I'll let you advise him on the pros and cons of that. :-P

[gallegoc]

Alot of that traing is basic first aid for the army, cls is the whole IV, and FMC. everything else is just reenforcement of first aid skills that was learned earlier.

[PEKSAV]

Thanks for the advise. Your right, I won't be able to use the IV in the field as an EMT-B, but it sure would be nice to know.
Is this, http://www.nwguardian.com/111/story/4709.html, CL course typical. I just want an idea of what it's like.
If not a chain-saw, maybe something smaller...hacksaw.
thanks

[Dominique]

If your agency will fund it, you may want to look at attending tactical medical courses put on by the NTOA, your state tactical officers association, or CONTOMS. Also, look at what the other tactical medical personnel in your area are carrying.

[gallegoc]

Thanks for the advise. Your right, I won't be able to use the IV in the field as an EMT-B, but it sure would be nice to know.
Is this, http://www.nwguardian.com/111/story/4709.html, CL course typical. I just want an idea of what it's like.
If not a chain-saw, maybe something smaller...hacksaw.
thanks
It may have some type of evaluation at the end of the course like that, but for the most part it will be in a classroom, with some hands-on. The
MSTC does a CMAST class that is geared for medics, and a cls course for everyone else. That footage looks like a CMAST course

[Maine Finn]

IV-starting is a great skill to know, but it's not much good if you're not able to practice it at all. Does your agency encourage you to 'up' your licensure? Even advancing to EMT-I is better than staying a Basic.

As far as equipment goes, I'm not a 'tactical' medic but I have a personal CLS bag with a modified stock set-up, and I've got a trauma bag here somewhere too. The most important thing to have in your bag is enough 'basic' stuff to hold you over until you either get your guys out of there or until a rig shows up. If you want, I can PM you a list of the stock I keep in my bag. Again, it's not tactical or high-speed, but you'd be surprised what you can do with some 4x4s and Kerlix.

[PEKSAV]

Right now I have the basics, but my basics my not be what others use.
I will take any info on what others carry.

[Laconian]

I highly second Dom's suggestion of getting with other local teams for what is common in your AO and training through NTOA if you can get it. Like Maine said you have to be able to hold them for the rig or stabilize them till you can get them out.

[Ghostryder]

check out this offering from Dana Gleason's new venture.

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6478/mysteryranchbackpacksme.png (http://img21.imageshack.us/i/mysteryranchbackpacksme.png/)

http://www.mysteryranch.com/packs/63/med-foldy.html

[Dominique]

I highly second Dom's suggestion of getting with other local teams for what is common in your AO and training through NTOA if you can get it. Like Maine said you have to be able to hold them for the rig or stabilize them till you can get them out.

If you get a minute, shoot me a PM. I'll see who I can hook you up with in your area.