Post by whitebear620 on Oct 30, 2016 18:52:36 GMT -5
This will be my review of the AC3 class put out by our own Patriotic Sheepdog. Patriotic Sheepdog, let me know if I got something completely wrong, my brain is still processing the firehose of information.
My background: Some may know here that I was a medic (68W) in the National Guard, I went to medic school in 2010 but received very little additional training from my unit, this was my first medical course since leaving the Guard.
Class started at 0800, brief introductions were done and work started right away. I suck at taking notes but he gives a very good presentation on the patient assessment with particular attention paid to the differences that we as armed citizens might have to deal with in SHTF world. Part of the presentation was on some of the tools that would be beneficial to operate as your team's medic such as: pulse oximeter (this was rammed home hard
), BP cuff, and stethoscope. He has a philosophy of "The brain can only endure what the butt can", so after the first presentation is was out of the class for hands on practice.
First hands on practice was self aid with TQs, everyone got behind simulated cover and practiced applying TQs to all limbs, including applying one TQ to a leg and then immediately having to apply it to one arm (Carry more than one TQ!), this was an eye opener for me as the TQ on my leg didn't allow me to reach the TQ in my cargo pocket so I had to use something else for the arm.
Another round of presentations detailing various injuries or complications we can face, including those we may not be able to do anything about. Attention was always paid to the fact that we are only armed citizens and will most likely not have the resources that hospitals and the like have.
More hands on practice, this time practicing our bandaging of various wounds. He took me aside at this point as I was the only person who was taking this class for the first time and discussed gear set ups with me, options that I could look at and things to keep in mind, the focus was on what works not on what's flashy and expensive (petroleum gauze
). It was at this point that we began to practicing working as a team with one person as medic and one person as the casualty (self aid was not really done past this point so that medic had to do it all), the difference between this class and most of everything else out there is that the injury the casualty had was not always shooting related (i.e. injury from things in a warehouse falling on them). It reminded me what I had forgotten, moving casualties sucks 
. We had a team of four guys, so three guys moving the casualty and it was still a workout for brain and muscle. Discussion was started on thinking of having different ways to get a casualty home like a game cart, cached litters, ATVs and a few others.
Another round of presentations, which I would remember the order of but I suck at taking notes.
More hands on training, scenarios started to be done in low/no light. This brings a whole different element in. Discussion of what color light might be best for the medic in low light situations, blue allows you to see blood the easiest while still being better than white light for trying to maintain some kind of light discipline. A big eye opener for me was that I had a scenario as medic where my patient was going to die no matter what we did (no hospitals guys!) but we could get him home back to base to see his family and hope for the best, this is something they never covered in medic school; you can do everything right that you are able to do with the resources available, but that patient may still die.
Last round of presentations dealing with diseases and hypothetical antibiotics use. This is probably the best discussion of this that I'm going to find as a civilian, it really is priceless to know what meds I should stocking in case my fish has XYZ and what meds are priority to stock first.
Things that were rammed home for me:
-Moving casualties sucks
-Need to get a couple of pulse oximeters
-Need to have something to have hands free lighting for treating casualties
-I have much to learn and practice
-Five guy patrols would be really nice
-The medic needs to think hard about what to put in their bag
-Options in medical gear uses are a good thing
-Not every injury will be gunshots, a sprained ankle on a log can ruin a patrol
-Putting a TQ back into a BFG TQ pouch is a pain in the ass....
-Moving casualties sucks
There was four guys taking the class (including myself), everyone was friendly and helpful to the noob (myself), no one whined or failed to try to do a task in the class. Most of the hands on training was done in full gear, weapons were cleared and safety checked, no ammunition was allowed in the building so that negligent discharges and the like would not be a concern. While this is not a tactical shooting class, it is a medical class after all, I did get practice at working with my rifle in my battle belt and chest rig; some changes will be made to my rig because of this experience. Patriotic Sheepdog reminds you to always think and use your head, he was open to my medical questions for SHTF and emailed me resources to further help me after the class. At the very least, I'd suggest the medic in your group take this class, this isn't like just another TC3 class for the military or LEOs, he has geared this class towards the armed citizen and it shows in how he discusses evacuating the casualty and prolonged care.
If anyone has any further questions about the class, feel free to ask me.
My background: Some may know here that I was a medic (68W) in the National Guard, I went to medic school in 2010 but received very little additional training from my unit, this was my first medical course since leaving the Guard.
Class started at 0800, brief introductions were done and work started right away. I suck at taking notes but he gives a very good presentation on the patient assessment with particular attention paid to the differences that we as armed citizens might have to deal with in SHTF world. Part of the presentation was on some of the tools that would be beneficial to operate as your team's medic such as: pulse oximeter (this was rammed home hard
), BP cuff, and stethoscope. He has a philosophy of "The brain can only endure what the butt can", so after the first presentation is was out of the class for hands on practice.First hands on practice was self aid with TQs, everyone got behind simulated cover and practiced applying TQs to all limbs, including applying one TQ to a leg and then immediately having to apply it to one arm (Carry more than one TQ!), this was an eye opener for me as the TQ on my leg didn't allow me to reach the TQ in my cargo pocket so I had to use something else for the arm.
Another round of presentations detailing various injuries or complications we can face, including those we may not be able to do anything about. Attention was always paid to the fact that we are only armed citizens and will most likely not have the resources that hospitals and the like have.
More hands on practice, this time practicing our bandaging of various wounds. He took me aside at this point as I was the only person who was taking this class for the first time and discussed gear set ups with me, options that I could look at and things to keep in mind, the focus was on what works not on what's flashy and expensive (petroleum gauze
). It was at this point that we began to practicing working as a team with one person as medic and one person as the casualty (self aid was not really done past this point so that medic had to do it all), the difference between this class and most of everything else out there is that the injury the casualty had was not always shooting related (i.e. injury from things in a warehouse falling on them). It reminded me what I had forgotten, moving casualties sucks 
. We had a team of four guys, so three guys moving the casualty and it was still a workout for brain and muscle. Discussion was started on thinking of having different ways to get a casualty home like a game cart, cached litters, ATVs and a few others.Another round of presentations, which I would remember the order of but I suck at taking notes.
More hands on training, scenarios started to be done in low/no light. This brings a whole different element in. Discussion of what color light might be best for the medic in low light situations, blue allows you to see blood the easiest while still being better than white light for trying to maintain some kind of light discipline. A big eye opener for me was that I had a scenario as medic where my patient was going to die no matter what we did (no hospitals guys!) but we could get him home back to base to see his family and hope for the best, this is something they never covered in medic school; you can do everything right that you are able to do with the resources available, but that patient may still die.
Last round of presentations dealing with diseases and hypothetical antibiotics use. This is probably the best discussion of this that I'm going to find as a civilian, it really is priceless to know what meds I should stocking in case my fish has XYZ
and what meds are priority to stock first.Things that were rammed home for me:
-Moving casualties sucks
-Need to get a couple of pulse oximeters
-Need to have something to have hands free lighting for treating casualties
-I have much to learn and practice
-Five guy patrols would be really nice
-The medic needs to think hard about what to put in their bag
-Options in medical gear uses are a good thing
-Not every injury will be gunshots, a sprained ankle on a log can ruin a patrol
-Putting a TQ back into a BFG TQ pouch is a pain in the ass....
-Moving casualties sucks
There was four guys taking the class (including myself), everyone was friendly and helpful to the noob (myself), no one whined or failed to try to do a task in the class. Most of the hands on training was done in full gear, weapons were cleared and safety checked, no ammunition was allowed in the building so that negligent discharges and the like would not be a concern. While this is not a tactical shooting class, it is a medical class after all, I did get practice at working with my rifle in my battle belt and chest rig; some changes will be made to my rig because of this experience. Patriotic Sheepdog reminds you to always think and use your head, he was open to my medical questions for SHTF and emailed me resources to further help me after the class. At the very least, I'd suggest the medic in your group take this class, this isn't like just another TC3 class for the military or LEOs, he has geared this class towards the armed citizen and it shows in how he discusses evacuating the casualty and prolonged care.
If anyone has any further questions about the class, feel free to ask me.
? into it, my Tactical Taylor TQ pouches on my battle belt and UWgear chest rig had no problems. I dont remember the make of the one on my PC. The other problem I had was my "practice" CAT-T TQ was taking in some wrinkles and velcro is wearing. I have put lots of practice on that one and the three classes. I also carry 3 on my person and one in my med kit on my pack.