COURSE DESCRIPTION (5 days):
The OpTac International Tactical Emergency Medical Response Program will be held June 14-18, 2010, in Margate, Florida.

Surviving a critical injury on a tactical operation is dependent on the life-saving skills of SWAT officers and tactical medics. This program is designed to prepare medics and SWAT operators with medical skills and tactics for SWAT operations. From basic combat trauma life-saving skills to emergency entry techniques, attendees will benefit from real-life applications. Classes include: tactical team preventative medicine, small-group practical skill sessions with tourniquets, airway management, management of specific casualty scenarios, emergency room entries, and tactical care in an urban combat environment.

Pre- and post-training tests are administered to provide a quantitative measure of training effectiveness and to determine program certifications. All attendees successfully completing this program will receive International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) certification. Certified Paramedics and EMTs successfully completing this program will also receive Emergency Medical Technician-Tactical (EMT-T) certification.

The cost to attend the OpTac International Tactical Emergency Medical Response Program is $899 per person. There is limited space available, therefore paid reservations will be accepted on a priority basis.

Subject Areas:

• Tactical team preventative medicine
• Airway management
• Intravenous infusion
• Treatment for hypovolemic shock
• Treating open chest wounds
• Immobilization of suspected arm, shoulder, and hip fractures or dislocations
• Insertion of a nasopharyngeal airway
• Bleeding control
• Insertion of combitubes
• Surgical cricothyroidotomy
• Needle chest decompressions
• Emergency entry tactics
• Officer rescue
• Room clearing techniques
  

Course Goals:

• Understand tactical team preventative medicine
• Be able to perform tactical initial assessments
• Understand and be able to perform basic trauma life-saving skills
• Be able to assess and secure an airway
• Be able to advise team commander on casualty status and initiate ground or MEDEVAC
• Understand emergency room entry and clearing tactics
• Understand officer rescue tactics
• Be able to identify and control patient bleeding
• Be able to apply tourniquets or direct pressure to control bleeding
• Be able to recognize the signs of shock
• Be able to assess the chest and perform appropriate corrective measures for breathing deficiencies
• Be able to manage Hemorrhagic/Hypovolemic Shock to determine the fluid requirements
• Be able to splint obvious long-bone fractures and prepare casualties for transportation
• Successfully complete the Tactical Emergency Medical Response practical and written examination