Being aware of security has a two-fold purpose: first to keep yourself safe and second to improve the casualty’s chances of survival. Getting injured helping the wounded is not combat effective.
Traditional EMS practice is to “ensure scene safety,” before treating a patient. Casualty management in high-risk incidents like active shooter, bombings, and buildings on fire will never be safe. The TECC and TCCC guidelines recognize this and prioritize treatment of only life threatening injuries in these dangerous settings.
Although multiple versions of MARCH exist, we like S-MARCH because Security is a reminder that although we can’t “ensure scene safety,” we can mitigate risk by being aware of where the threats are.
🕖 Reading Time, 8 minutes. (UPDATED 31 March 2024) Researched and written by Mike Shertz, MD/18D, not AI There is little existing medical literature on casualties intentionally run over by vehicles, but several patterns become apparent. On 19 December, 2016 …
🕖 Reading Time, 3 minutes While helping teach a class with InSights Training Center at West Coast Armory Indoor Range, I was really impressed to see they posted emergency instructions in the event of a training accident if 911 must …
🕖 Reading Time, 5 minutes There is nothing like a brief stay in recently war-torn Portland, Oregon, to force you to rethink your security and tactical medical support plan in a high-risk environment. If you consider yourself a competent tactical …
🕖 Reading Time, 1 minutes Sometimes when the ninjas invade, they capture family members. You need to be prepared to perform your own hostage rescue and medical care. https://vimeo.com/413563954 Would you perform Bear Under Fire care and tourniquet him at …
🕖 Reading Time, 5 minutes After a recent trip to Thailand teaching with the College of Remote and Offshore Medicine, many students wanted recommendations on travel medicine, medications, and vaccinations. While most travelers to the developing world and tropical destinations …
🕖 Reading Time, 1 minutes Dragging a casualty with a slung weapon presents a safety problem. Learn what it is & how to deal with it. https://vimeo.com/276675578