Tactical Emergency Medicine Course
Disclaimer:
Defensive Shooting Instructors, Inc. does not certify or guarantee that participants who attend or successfully complete the Tactical Emergency Medicine course will be able to perform Basic or Advanced adult or pediatric life support in an actual emergency.
Tactical Emergency Medical Skills Certification is neither the mission nor the objective of Defensive Shooting Instructors, Inc. Our role is to provide you, the student with the highest quality Tactical Emergency Medicine education available anywhere.
Although our courses are designed to teach students how to perform in certain situations, the course does not guarantee that the participants will use their training appropriately in medical or tactical situations outside the classroom.
Tactical operations are an evolving craft, and what is the best method today may or may not be the best method tomorrow. Beyond this course, it is incumbent on the student to keep abreast of emergency medical and tactical options and issues.
Finally, your own skill level will be the ultimate determinant of what techniques, tactics, and treatments you will use in the field.
TWO SITUATIONAL SCENARIOS:
YOU HAVE A CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT, ARE OUT WITH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER AND SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS IN WHICH YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR SIDEARM DEFENSIVELY. ONE OF YOU ARE SHOT - DO YOU OR YOUR PARTNER HAVE THE SKILLS TO KEEP THE OTHER ALIVE UNTIL MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS CAN REACH YOU?
YOU COME HOME TO FIND YOUR FRONT DOOR OPEN, THE HOUSE DARK AND YOUR FAMILY IS SUPPOSED TO BE HOME WAITING FOR YOU. DO YOU KNOW HOW TO CLEAR YOUR HOME ALONE USING CONCEALMENT AND COVER WHILE UTILIZING SLOW AND DELIBERATE MOVEMENT, AND THEN IF YOU FIND YOUR FAMILY AND THEY ARE IN NEED OF TRAUMA BASED MEDICAL CARE DO YOU HAVE THE SKILLS TO KEEP THEM ALIVE UNTIL MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS CAN ARRIVE ON THE SCENE?
DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION YET?
THESE ARE BUT A SAMPLING OF THE SCENARIOS WE COVER IN OUR CLASSES.
OUR CLASSES ARE 8 HOURS PER DAY, 4 DAYS IN DURATION. WE TYPICALLY RUN THEM ACROSS TWO WEEKENDS.
WE ARE THE ONLY FACILITY IN THE NATION TO OFFER THIS COURSE TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING TO CLOSE/PERSONAL PROTECTION SPECIALISTS OR CONTRACTORS DEPLOYING OVERSEAS. ALL OTHER FACILITIES RESTRICT ATTENDANCE TO ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY EXCLUSIVELY.
COURSE OVERVIEW:
Basic Tactics and Survival Medicine
For Civilians/ Concealed Weapons Permit Holders
Course description: The BTSM course is designed to teach the average person life saving tactics by incorporating shooting tactics with survival medical tactics being used by law enforcement and special operations military throughout the world. The core content curriculum of the Basic Tactics & Survival Medicine (BTSM) Course consists of both medical and tactical instruction. The DSI faculty consists of both tactical and medical instructors. The tactical instructors have many years of experience in law enforcement and military special operations as tactical team leaders and tactical operators.
The medical instructors consist of board certified medical doctors and paramedics/emt's. All of the medical instructors actively serve on SWAT teams as emergency medical providers or have at some point in their careers. All medical faculty have prior law enforcement training and experience and are graduates of various SWAT and Special Operations schools.
Equipment Requirements: Concealment holster, Concealment Garment (over shirt/shooting vest), Pistol (preferably the pistol you carry on a daily basis or have in the home for home protection); Knee pads are optional, eye and ear protection. There is an ammunition requirement of 300 rounds which students may provide on their own or purchase through DSI. Airsoft weapons will be used during some training evolutions, but will be provided by DSI during the course of instruction.
DAY 1
AM 3 Hrs.
The morning of the first day consists of registration, and introduction of the students and training cadre. The morning begins with students being exposed to the tactical mindset. Students are exposed to tactical gear for the urban warrior (civilian). The instructors explain the usefulness of various tactical holsters as well as explain to students what items would be the most useful in their emergency medical kits. There will be a demonstration by staff who have field-tested the equipment in actual tactical operations.
1 Hour Lunch break
PM 4 Hrs.
The fundamentals of tactical concepts, awareness, planning, cover and concealment, as well as tactical exercises involving slow and deliberate movement are demonstrated and practiced in the afternoon. Here, students learn first hand the importance of effective proactive defensive movements to include the theory of room clearance by an individual. Students will also learn to clear rooms and, exit vehicles as an individual while engaging multiple targets in shoot and no shoot scenarios. In order to enhance learning, students practice in what we call a go status. Go status mimics the adrenaline rush associated with being forced to jump into action at a moments notice. The tactical experience is enhanced by the use of Airsoft weapons.
After each scenario students are critiqued on their performance and given suggestions as to how to accomplish their task with minimal exposure to threat.
DAY 2
AM 3 Hrs.
The morning begins with classroom work covering the ABC's of tactical medicine. In this session instructors will cover the management of Airways, Breathing, and Circulation. During this session instructors will demonstrate the methods of determining if a victim has an obstructed airway as well as the options available to clear the obstruction.
1 Hour Lunch break
PM 4 Hrs.
The afternoon begins with a discussion covering Tactical Emergency Medical Care and the fundamentals, and medical aspects of wound ballistics. This is followed by material addressing options for field hemorrhage control. Tourniquet use and application is discussed as well as the pros and cons of the many types of hemorrhage control bandages now currently on the market. After the classroom portion of instruction students will participate in practical exercises relevant to the course of study.
DAY 3
AM 4 Hrs.
The morning of Day 3 is devoted to range training exercises with the student's handguns and or long guns i.e. (M4, Shotgun) if applicable. Students will learn to transition from their handguns to long guns if applicable. Covered during this period of instruction will be stance, drawing, trigger control, and shooting positions while engaging targets. Prior to breaking for lunch students will gather for traditional class photo.
1 Hour Lunch break
PM 3 Hrs.
During the afternoon session students will learn the art of suppression fire as well as leap frogging. The students will also have the opportunity to practice their shooting on the move techniques, ammo management, all while mentally preparing to evacuate and treat a wounded victim.
DAY 4
AM 6 Hrs.
On the morning of day four, before getting suited up for the tactical-medical exercises, there is a half hour written examination. This examination fulfills DSI's training requirements and provides self-assessment. In the tactical-medical scenarios the instructors critique the students both medically and tactically in their decision making, as well as field triage, assessment and treatment. The scenarios will consist of putting the shooting tactics that were covered in the course to practical use. We call this portion of the course "The Warriors Edge" because the students will be given 3 scenarios where they have to extract a victim from a target location while taking fire from OPFOR's. This portion of the course calls for the students to apply all of the knowledge that they gained on day 1 to the present. Each tactical-medical scenario lasts approximately 30 minutes with students rotating as tactical and medical personnel. Airsoft are also utilized during the training scenarios to enhance the learning experience. Upon completions of the tactical exercises the students return to the classroom for equipment return, debriefing, graduation and closing remarks.