You hear a lot about law enforcement agencies getting "tactical" training, but "medical tactical" drills geared toward gunshot wounds are very rare.
Washington's Most Wanted's Parella Lewis got an exclusive look inside this special, and intense training.
About six times a year, the group "Remote Medical International" trains law enforcement officers and fire fighters how to survive and treat gunshot wounds. The objective is to help wounded police officers get medical help, and like Sgt. Grant Lightfoot with the Clallam County Sheriff's office says, no matter where they are. "A lot of times we're forced to work in remote areas by ourselves."
He says that a year ago a deputy in his department was shot twice during a gun battle that lasted 20 minutes. The bullet wounds left the officer's hands useless and that left him in great danger. "He made a tactical reload. Did all the right things. Communicated on the radio. Told them that he was injured. He couldn't use his firing hand and basically had to wait." Thankfully the deputy survived, but training like this could have allowed him to treat his gunshot wounds faster.
This training is specialized and expensive, and at a time when most law enforcement agencies are having to make cutbacks, Suquamish Tribal police felt it was important training, so they sponsored the event.
Chief Mike Lasnier says, "It's well worth the time and money we've invested in this. I've been stunned at just how many changes have occurred in just the information and knowledge available on how to treat people that have been the victim of gunshot wounds."
As Matthew Griffin of RMI tells Parella, some of those changes are new techniques built on established military concepts."What we're really basing all of our principles on is the U.S. military program of 'Tactical Combat Casualty Care' or "Teachable C'. They focus on areas that are extremity, hemorrhaging, area management, and chest injuries."
Other changes involve products that are more effective than they used to be. Everyone who gets trained gets a rescue pack that treats about 95% of gunshot wounds. One piece of it is the 'quick clot'. It looks like a gauze bandage, but it's coated with a blood-clotting agent that when you force it into the gunshot wound itself, it actually clots the blood 100% of the time. This is one of the most effective methods there is for treating gunshot wounds.
This training is essential for every police officer, and the second in command of the police academy, Sgt. Richard Phillips, would like to see this training given to every cadet, so everyone has a better shot at a fighting chance of survival. "We spend a lot of time , 19 weeks, teaching them to save lives and if there's another way, another tool that we can give them, then I think at least we should consider it."
Washington's Most Wanted's Parella Lewis got an exclusive look inside this special, and intense training.
About six times a year, the group "Remote Medical International" trains law enforcement officers and fire fighters how to survive and treat gunshot wounds. The objective is to help wounded police officers get medical help, and like Sgt. Grant Lightfoot with the Clallam County Sheriff's office says, no matter where they are. "A lot of times we're forced to work in remote areas by ourselves."
He says that a year ago a deputy in his department was shot twice during a gun battle that lasted 20 minutes. The bullet wounds left the officer's hands useless and that left him in great danger. "He made a tactical reload. Did all the right things. Communicated on the radio. Told them that he was injured. He couldn't use his firing hand and basically had to wait." Thankfully the deputy survived, but training like this could have allowed him to treat his gunshot wounds faster.
This training is specialized and expensive, and at a time when most law enforcement agencies are having to make cutbacks, Suquamish Tribal police felt it was important training, so they sponsored the event.
Chief Mike Lasnier says, "It's well worth the time and money we've invested in this. I've been stunned at just how many changes have occurred in just the information and knowledge available on how to treat people that have been the victim of gunshot wounds."
As Matthew Griffin of RMI tells Parella, some of those changes are new techniques built on established military concepts."What we're really basing all of our principles on is the U.S. military program of 'Tactical Combat Casualty Care' or "Teachable C'. They focus on areas that are extremity, hemorrhaging, area management, and chest injuries."
Other changes involve products that are more effective than they used to be. Everyone who gets trained gets a rescue pack that treats about 95% of gunshot wounds. One piece of it is the 'quick clot'. It looks like a gauze bandage, but it's coated with a blood-clotting agent that when you force it into the gunshot wound itself, it actually clots the blood 100% of the time. This is one of the most effective methods there is for treating gunshot wounds.
This training is essential for every police officer, and the second in command of the police academy, Sgt. Richard Phillips, would like to see this training given to every cadet, so everyone has a better shot at a fighting chance of survival. "We spend a lot of time , 19 weeks, teaching them to save lives and if there's another way, another tool that we can give them, then I think at least we should consider it."
