Background on our online Tactical Casualty Care courses
For years students have asked about the feasibility of teaching the tactical first aid, or Tactical Casualty Care courses, outside of the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, to put on the class takes a cadre of qualified assistant instructors as well as a lot of gear. The Complete TC2 course, for example, takes two full truckloads of supplies and equipment to give students the opportunity to experience multiple hands-on skills stations through a variety of training tools, as well as the necessary equipment to ensure our scenarios are realistic and engaging. The first time you see massive hemorrhage shouldn’t be when you’re being called on to give lifesaving medical care. We strive to stress inoculate students with realistic scenarios. Prior students have long suggested we video the courses and create an online Tactical Casualty Care course to allow students outside the NW the chance to train and obtain these skills, but that seemed very difficult.
It happens that my oldest friend is an independent filmmaker, having directed his own feature film, as well as directing and producing behind the scenes coverage for films such as The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Usual Suspects, X-men, X2, and Superman Returns. It also happens that Robert was between projects and available over the summer.
Filming online Tactical Casualty Care courses
In June 2017, we spent five 10-hour days at Picture This, a film stage in NE Portland, teaching the online Tactical Casualty Care course, the Advanced TC2, and the Complete TC2, back to back. Over the weekend, we went on location and filmed scenarios for everyday citizens, law enforcement, fire, as well as paramedic level skills. We had the generous support and volunteer time of local SWAT members as well as paramedics from a local fire service to increase the realism and show the medical skills being applied in theatrical scenarios.
On Sunday, we filmed skills stations, so although students watching from home won’t have the actual hands-on of a live class, they will see: Up-close views of tourniquets being correctly applied, bleeding wound trainers being properly packed to stop massive hemorrhage, surgical airways, IO, and more.
Same great class, now online whenever you have time to train
Some former students have inquired about refreshing their skills by watching the online class and have expressed concern as to whether the online classes have been sterilized for filming. They haven’t been: All the real world examples, stories, and dry and off-color humor remains. These classes are as close as you can come to attending the in-person courses as you possibly can, from the comfort of your own home.
TC2 is available now. The Advanced and Complete courses will be released later this year.
Dr. Mike Shertz is the Owner and Lead Instructor at Crisis Medicine. Dr. Shertz spent over 30 years gaining the experience and insight to create and provide his comprehensive, science-informed, training to better prepare everyday citizens, law enforcement, EMS, and the military to manage casualties and wounded in high-risk environments. Using a combination of current and historical events, Dr. Shertz’s lectures include relevant, illustrative photos, as well as hands-on demonstrations to demystify the how, why, when to use each emergency medical procedure you need to become a Force Multiplier for Good.
