Of the skills an EDC person should be trained in, both defensive and medical skills are commonly mentioned. This is good because they are two of the big ones, but how do they work together? Or a better question is: When is the correct time to switch roles from taking defensive action to that of life saving?
Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV For everything there is a a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
In the tactical medicine world it is common to hear things like “fire superiority is the best medicine” and “good medicine at the wrong time is bad medicine”. Why is this the case though? Is it rooted in common sense or reason? Or are these things myths often repeated?
The concept of “fire superiority is the best medicine” is from the understanding it is unsafe to begin medical work before it is safe to do so. EMS is taught to verify the safety of a scene prior to entering it, this is to prevent the rescuer from becoming a casualty themselves. As an injured rescuer simply creates a bigger problem of needing to provide medical care to another casualty, while at the same time being down one rescuer.
This Fire Superiority concept is also rooted in the understanding of more people survive if they have a winning mindset and are willing themselves to stay in the fight. The science behind tactical medicine has shown that if you take two people with the same injury and place one in a scenario were they are on the winning side of the fight and place the second person on the losing side of the fight, then the one on the winning side is more likely to survive from the very same wound pathology. This seems to illustrating the importance of mindset, specifically the remaining and winning the fight. As opposed to the person who gives into the idea that all is lost and quits fighting.
This brings me to a side point, if you arrive at a casualty don’t tell them “it’s all good, I’ve got it” this could cause them to stop fighting for themselves. Instead say “I’m here to help, keep fighting, help is on the way!” This will keep them engaged in their survival, to keep them in the fight.
So when is the right time to stop addressing a threat and start addressing a medical issue? After the threat has been neutralized or has disappeared. Remembering to be aware of the “plus one”. A plus one is the idea of where there is one of something then there will be another i.e. bad guy, injury, etc. The next thing to remember is the danger can return at any time, and attention to your surroundings must be be paid. At any time the situation could return to that defense and not medicine.
There is a lot to consider but the biggest focus needs to be on situational awareness, and responding to the greatest issue at the moment. Maintain the winning attitude and focus any casualty you respond to on this attitude as well.
-Joe
Outpost 95 