Second Aid: Preparing for Medical Emergencies
By R. E. Rick Colliver
As a former Emergency Medical Technician and Rescue Diver, I have seen first aid and trauma kits of varying sizes, shapes and colors that included enough equipment to operate a MASH unit at the site of a catastrophe for a month. On the other hand, the most experienced flight nurse/combat medic I’ve ever known once said that if he had a 2X2 bandage and a pair of rubber gloves, he was “good to go” for almost any occasion. This illustrates that it’s the “carpenter and not the tools” that usually gets the job done, and thus competent, recurrent training becomes an essential component in the protection specialist’s toolbox.
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In a protective detail, every one of the members should be current in their first aid, CPR and AED. However, at least one member of the detail should have advanced training and be able to operate under a physician’s direction/protocols if the need arises. Additionally, they should be familiar with the protectee’s medical profile so that they understand what types of treatment s/he might require on a day-to-day basis. The responsibility that comes with this includes a knowledge of and compliance with various confidentiality regulations including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA, Title II) http://www.hhs.gov/news/facts/privacy.html . In other words, if the protectee shares personal medical information with you as a part of your duty, you are now legally bound to keep it confidential.
Basic first aid and CPR training can be acquired through either the American Heart Association http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3011774
or the American Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/SERVICES/hss/courses/ .
Protection personnel who want additional training in the United States can contact their local fire departments, EMS service, their family physician or local colleges that offer emergency medical training, for information and discussion about what programs would best support their career goals. Advanced training is also available online through organizations such as FEMA and the Fire Services Emergency Training Institute.
In the United States, there are three generally-accepted levels of pre-hospital care training that are nationally recognized (excerpted http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos101.htm). These certifications require extensive classroom and clinical exposure:
EMT – Basic
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President of Bodyguards Careers Harlan Austin has acquired over 25 years of field experience as an Executive Protection Specialist, seven years of which he served as Director of Security Services for Paisley Park Productions.
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December 15th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Your posts just keep getting better and better!
Mike (The Bull) Smith
December 15th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Good post. Medical training is very important and so is keep your training current. Medical skills are perishable and the best way to stay current is to use them. I would advise If you have CPR First Aid training go for your EMT, and If you have your EMT see if you can work a part time shift at your local ambulance service or go to Paramedic class. Just keep using the skills you have as best you can, even a little practice helps.
December 16th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Thanks for an excellent article on a subject that is often given only a cursory overview in EP books and magazine articles.