Funny the timing of things.
I just joined USCCA primarily for their magazine and back issues. What should I find in the January issue? an Article by Alan Rose on First Aid to survive a Lethal Force Encounter.
The article was a good read but left me with as many questions as answers. I guess that's part of trying to learn anything from a 2 page magazine article. The article is like an overview of the ABCDE's(Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Expose) of first aid with short call-outs to specific Lethal Force Encounter details. Thisgs like Sucking chest wound, one bullet may mean multiple holes, checking for injuries, etc... While the article was interesting in that it covered the topic I've recently been thinking of, it was frustratingly brief in detail.
There were a couple good thoughts in there:
Having plan is essential. First, you must develop a sense of survival. People who believe they will survive have a much better chance of doing so. Those who believe they will die if shot or stabbed will not fare as well.
The Author's list of Must-have supplies reads a little like here. Here are some common items you might think of adding to your kit:
Gauze dressings, menstrual pads, elastic rolled bandage, masking tape (I went with duct tape but I can see where masking tape won't stick to skin ... thoughts?), tampons, aspirin, wide belt, moist towels or baby wipes kept in a reclosable plastic zipper bag
The steps you take in the moments after a significant injury can save your life or the life of a loved one. They can also minimize the extent of the damage done, giving you a quicker recovery time. Don’t let a serious injury become fatal. Be your own lifesaving hero.
The eye opening part for me was the new reliance on temporary tourniquet use and the effects of a slashing wound. I would not have thought of hand wipes and etc as essential for keeping entrails wt (Dry entrails are dead entrails according to the article).
Due to the overview style of the article and the mention of Quik Clot and Tourniquets, I'm left wanting more specific in-person instruction. I'll keep following up on this.
Paul