Tactical Medic course

[popsie]

I guess this is a question forda chief. I'm a civilian paramedic have been for over 26 years. The past couple of years on the civilian side. The powers to be finally figured out that swat teams shoot have medical back up and a course called Tactical medic was introduced. my question is any simuliarties to current or past fmss. I'm just curious. I still remember a lot from fmss from 1975. I still have some of the habits. Like when I arrive on scenes I'm in tactical mode till I feel the scene is safe. I think I may still may have my red field guide. They were given out at Pendleton. Just to let you know I like your site and find it very interesting. You are right ( Figured you'd like that) A phase I see a lot on this site. "Once a Corpsman always a Corpsman" I use a lot what I learned while a corpsman. It's still very beneficial and sets me apart from other Paramedics with no military background. I think the foundation of training as a Navy Corpsman was very strong and usefull. To those starting out listen to the words of been there, done that , got the T shirt. It's been 27 years since I left the active side. My experiences I had have followed me that entire time. Keep a open mind, adapt and you will conquer.

[DocHayes]

Hey there,

I've been a Paramedic for the past 7 years. I think there are a lot of differences between a tatical medic course and FMSS. I graduated from FMSS this past May, and before then I had looked into tactical medic courses.

I think the differences in tactical medic and FMSS go back to the fundamental differences between a fieldCorpsman and street Paramedic. In the streets... our patients WILL get to a hospital or definitive medical care within minutes or even hours. In the field, a casualty MAY or MAY NOT get to a higher level of care for days.

Having talked with the SWAT medics at work, and reviewing some of the schools, they focus on tactial stuff and less on actual medical stuff. Most of the courses I've seen require a good foundation in EMS prior to taking the course. Even at that I don't think those courses teach anything that you shouldn't already know from the streets.

Despite all their training, most tactical medics I know, will never be in the stack or operators- the whole risk/benefit thing. At least thats how it works here.Whenever they're calledout, they're usually staged in the rear with the transport. Only difference is they're wearing pretty cool black uniforms, andI'm wearing my issued flack-jacket and crash helmet.

Before leaving for FMSS, I had thought about being on our local SWAT team, but now I can really see that those guys live up the nicknames we give them- EMS Ninja's, Johnny and Rambo's, EMS NRA club, etc.

I think the Army's 18D coursemight incorporate the best of both worlds, or perhaps OEMS.

[popsie]

Thanks that helps. I had a feeling that was the case. I'm not interested in becoming a swat medic. The uniform is cool, but I'm happy being a street ghetto medic. The medicine we practice is cool. My motto is a little different than "keep as many men at as many guns for as long as possible" "Now it's stablize and transport"