🚑 Medical Basics for Field Safety

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Why It Matters

Crowds, police, and unpredictable conditions create high medical risk at actions.
Emergencies like severe bleeding, panic attacks, dehydration, or chemical exposure can escalate fast.
Even without being a medic, knowing core first-aid can save lives before EMS or trained medics arrive.

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What You'll Learn

1. Stop the Bleed Skills – Tourniquet use, wound packing, pressure, and improvised methods.
2. CPR & Airway Basics – Hands-only CPR and safe airway positioning.
3. Field Triage – Simple systems to prioritize care (RPM: Respiration, Pulse, Mentation).
4. Chemical Exposure Response – Differentiating tear gas vs. pepper spray and step-by-step decon.
5. What to Carry – Field kit essentials: gloves, gauze, saline, and PPE.

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Stop the Bleed Essentials

• Recognize bleeding type:
  • Bright, spurting = arterial (priority for tourniquet)
  • Dark, steady = venous (pressure, packing)
• Improvised gear: Use clothing, belts (as last resort tourniquets), or sticks for windlass.
• Tourniquet timing: Only apply when pressure fails; note time visibly (on forehead or limb).

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Triage Basics (RPM Method)

1. Respiration: Over 30 breaths/min = Red (immediate).
2. Pulse: Weak or absent radial pulse = Red.
3. Mentation: Can’t follow simple commands = Red.

Color codes:

• Red: Life-threatening, treat immediately.
• Yellow: Delayed but stable.
• Green: Walking wounded.
• Black: No signs of life (do not expend resources in mass-casualty events).

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Chemical Exposure Response

• Tear Gas vs. Pepper Spray:
  • Gas = airborne, causes coughing/tearing.
  • Spray = localized burning on skin/eyes.
• Decon steps:
  1. Get to fresh air, remove contaminated clothes.
  2. Flush eyes with copious water or saline (no oils or lotions).
  3. For asthma symptoms, assist with inhaler if prescribed.
  4. Never use milk — it worsens irritation.

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Skills Retention Plan

• Practice Stop the Bleed and CPR quarterly with a partner.
• Carry a pocket reference card for tourniquet and triage steps.
• Use a buddy system to refresh skills and document who’s trained.

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Emergency Response Flow

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Quick Action Steps

1. Practice bleeding control and CPR until it’s automatic under stress.
2. Carry gloves, gauze, and saline at all actions.
3. Pair with a medic or trained buddy whenever possible.
4. Document any care given (time, actions) for legal follow-up.

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Risks & Red Lines

• Incorrect tourniquet use can cause permanent harm — use only when pressure fails.
• Never exceed your scope of training (no advanced procedures).
• Always get consent when possible, have a witness, and document what you do.

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Scenario Drill

"Someone collapses with severe leg bleeding during a march:

1. Confirm the scene is safe.
2. Check consciousness and breathing.
3. Control the bleed with pressure or tourniquet.
4. Signal for medic and dispatcher.
5. Document care for legal/medical handoff."

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Checklist

• Can apply a tourniquet and pack a wound correctly.
• Can perform hands-only CPR and basic airway positioning.
• Can identify chemical exposure and do safe decon.
• Carries a personal first-aid kit at events.
• Has practiced skills with real tourniquets and kits (not just theory).
• Can identify shock and signal for help.

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Resource Appendix

• Printable Skill Cards (Stop the Bleed, Triage, Chemical Decon)
• Legal Care Documentation Template
• Pocket Reference Flowchart (emergency steps condensed)
• Recommended Training Videos: Stop the Bleed official, American Heart CPR