Camden Fire Dept. hosts Tactical Emergency Casualty Care two-day training
Carrying patients from the hot zone to the warm zone. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Practicing the MARCH assessment. MARCH is a trauma assessment mnemonic that references massive hemorrhage, airway control, respiratory support, circulation, hypothermia and head injury. (Photo courtesy Matt Heath/Camden Fire Dept.)
Assessing for hemorrhage. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
TECC training Sept. 14 at the Camden Snow Bowl, hosted by Camden Fire Dept. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Tying tourniquets and stopping the bleed. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
A triage station. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Taking cover with an active shooter in the area. A triage station. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Tying tourniquets and stopping the bleed. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Carrying patients from the hot zone to the warm zone. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Moving patients during a multi-casualty simulation. Carrying patients from the hot zone to the warm zone. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Applying bandages to a chest wound. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
(Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
(Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Applying tourniquets to one's own limbs. The TECC Class at the end of the weekend. (Photo courtesy Matt Heath/Camden Fire Dept.)
Packing wounds. (Photo courtesy Matt Heath/Camden Fire Dept.)
Applying tourniquets and preparing to move patients from the hot zone. (Photo courtesy Matt Heath/Camden Fire Dept.)
Class time. (Photo courtesy Camden Fire Dept.)
The TECC Class at the end of the weekend. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Carrying patients from the hot zone to the warm zone. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Practicing the MARCH assessment. MARCH is a trauma assessment mnemonic that references massive hemorrhage, airway control, respiratory support, circulation, hypothermia and head injury. (Photo courtesy Matt Heath/Camden Fire Dept.)
Assessing for hemorrhage. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
TECC training Sept. 14 at the Camden Snow Bowl, hosted by Camden Fire Dept. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Tying tourniquets and stopping the bleed. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
A triage station. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Taking cover with an active shooter in the area. A triage station. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Tying tourniquets and stopping the bleed. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Carrying patients from the hot zone to the warm zone. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Moving patients during a multi-casualty simulation. Carrying patients from the hot zone to the warm zone. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Applying bandages to a chest wound. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
(Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
(Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
Applying tourniquets to one's own limbs. The TECC Class at the end of the weekend. (Photo courtesy Matt Heath/Camden Fire Dept.)
Packing wounds. (Photo courtesy Matt Heath/Camden Fire Dept.)
Applying tourniquets and preparing to move patients from the hot zone. (Photo courtesy Matt Heath/Camden Fire Dept.)
Class time. (Photo courtesy Camden Fire Dept.)
The TECC Class at the end of the weekend. (Photo courtesy Connor Howland/Camden Fire Dept.)
CAMDEN — Members of the Camden Fire Department, along with participants from Rockland, Windsor and Brooklin fire departments, a trainee heading to Ukraine, and a Canadian who coordinates emergency reponse in the Caribbean, spent the weekend, Sept. 13 and 14, learning and practicing how to respond to and care for patients in a civilian tactical environment.
Taught by Maine EMS providers and combat military veterans, the weekend comprised classroom and hands-on applications, followed by a full day simulation training at the Camden Snow Bowl.
"TECC stands for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care, a set of evidence-based guidelines for providing medical care in high-threat environments," said Camden Fire Chief Chris Farley. "The National Association of Emergency Medical Technician developed program educates prehospital providers, including law enforcement and Fire/EMS personnel, to manage severe trauma and critical injuries in chaotic situations where there may be multiple patients. This could be an event where multiple people are injured such as a motor vehicle accident, skiing accident or shooting situation.
The purpose of TECC training is to teach how to respond to and care for patients under adverse conditions and threats. Topics included hemorrhage control, tourniquet applications, physical assessment under hostile threats; treating wounded responders in threatening environments; techniques for dragging and moving patients to safety; and mass-casualty/active shooter event simulations.
Class participants practiced skills that ranged from triaging wounded patients in mass casualty events to packing wounds, and applying tournaquets to their own limbs.
"Our feeling is that it’s better to be prepared for a situation like this and not need the skills, rather than experience a significant event and not be prepared for it," said Farley. "We’re grateful for the Camden Fire/EMS responders who participated in the training over the weekend. In addition to learning with each other, they learned from other responders from Maine, Boston and Vancouver – who all shared their valuable experiences."
