October 27, 2011
One of my friends caught a bullet in the leg a few days ago from an enemy combatant. He will be 100 percent okay, surgery is done, he is already state side, everyone is happy. He also helped me with this week’s blog topic, which we will call the ABC’s. So we can thank him for two things, this blog idea, and his service to this country along with his Purple Heart he will be awarded. So “Fish,” we thank you!
The ABC’s we are going to go over are for any sort of injury resulting from some form of penetration to the body that results in bleeding. This is important because I feel the majority of people reading my blogs are shooters or people who are around guns, ranges, training, or other dangerous activities that could result in some form of bodily harm. So read on.
Tactically, eliminate any threat that caused the bleeding, meaning, if you are getting shot at, the best medicine you can give the injured teammate, or whoever it is, is accurate firepower down-range to eliminate the “cause” of your friend’s rapid blood loss. So do not just run to your injured person at their location; that location being known as “the X,” and try to grab them or move them until you know it is safe. Otherwise, you will have two people on the X, and so on and so on.
In this case, we teach, or are taught, the following: self aid, buddy aid and medic aid. Self aid, meaning help yourself, crawl, drag, roll yourself off the X no matter what, and stop the bleeding yourself with any sort of tourniquet possible. A belt, a shirt, or for those of us in the profession, always have multiple tourniquets on your kit, armor, or person somewhere. I carry one on each side of me, so if my left arm is gone, guess what, I have one on the right and vice-versa. Learn to use them. You need to be able to apply the tourniquet on your own arm or leg in under 30 seconds, after that, you will probably pass out from blood loss, and then self-aid is no longer an option, so train for this stuff while you are on your couch or at the range. It is simple.
After self aid comes buddy aid, meaning your partner, a teammate, whoever. They also need training to deal with these types of injuries and the use of the medical equipment as well in order to apply it effectively to save YOUR life. It behooves you to make sure they are learning when you are as well.
Third is medic aid or as the Devil Dogs and Squids say, “Corpsman Aid.” This is the best type, but usually comes last unless you have a medic standing right next to you. This means that someone trained in the medical profession and is an actual medic is treating you. This is the best feeling there is, but takes the longest to get, hence the importance of self aid, buddy aid, corpsman aid.
Years ago, military members focused on being able to get an IV started on an injured soldier while sometimes allowing additional bleeding to occur. Over time, it was discovered that the IV was of zero importance and bleeding control saves more lives than anything else. Therefore, always stop the bleeding first. Everything else comes later. CPR? Later. IV bag? Later. Broken bone splint? Later. Stop the bleeding ASAP—now.
How do you stop the bleeding? Pressure works well on most all wounds. Use your hands and weight to compress the area. Also, invest in the following items:
Invest in this stuff. It will save your life. Just ask Fish, or anyone else here, who would like to leave a comment about any experience with any of these items or the use of the ABCs. Please stay safe, but if you don’t, use these tips. Thanks for reading!
Now go shoot!
One of my friends caught a bullet in the leg a few days ago from an enemy combatant. He will be 100 percent okay, surgery is done, he is already state side, everyone is happy. He also helped me with this week’s blog topic, which we will call the ABC’s. So we can thank him for two things, this blog idea, and his service to this country along with his Purple Heart he will be awarded. So “Fish,” we thank you!
The ABC’s we are going to go over are for any sort of injury resulting from some form of penetration to the body that results in bleeding. This is important because I feel the majority of people reading my blogs are shooters or people who are around guns, ranges, training, or other dangerous activities that could result in some form of bodily harm. So read on.
Stop the Threat
We are at the range training. Yes me, and you. All of a sudden, someone on the line starts yelling or screaming and all we see is blood soaked pants or shirt, or whatever. What do we do?Tactically, eliminate any threat that caused the bleeding, meaning, if you are getting shot at, the best medicine you can give the injured teammate, or whoever it is, is accurate firepower down-range to eliminate the “cause” of your friend’s rapid blood loss. So do not just run to your injured person at their location; that location being known as “the X,” and try to grab them or move them until you know it is safe. Otherwise, you will have two people on the X, and so on and so on.
In this case, we teach, or are taught, the following: self aid, buddy aid and medic aid. Self aid, meaning help yourself, crawl, drag, roll yourself off the X no matter what, and stop the bleeding yourself with any sort of tourniquet possible. A belt, a shirt, or for those of us in the profession, always have multiple tourniquets on your kit, armor, or person somewhere. I carry one on each side of me, so if my left arm is gone, guess what, I have one on the right and vice-versa. Learn to use them. You need to be able to apply the tourniquet on your own arm or leg in under 30 seconds, after that, you will probably pass out from blood loss, and then self-aid is no longer an option, so train for this stuff while you are on your couch or at the range. It is simple.
After self aid comes buddy aid, meaning your partner, a teammate, whoever. They also need training to deal with these types of injuries and the use of the medical equipment as well in order to apply it effectively to save YOUR life. It behooves you to make sure they are learning when you are as well.
Third is medic aid or as the Devil Dogs and Squids say, “Corpsman Aid.” This is the best type, but usually comes last unless you have a medic standing right next to you. This means that someone trained in the medical profession and is an actual medic is treating you. This is the best feeling there is, but takes the longest to get, hence the importance of self aid, buddy aid, corpsman aid.
ABC stands for what? Aggressive Bleeding Control!
On the far right, my left, my magazine holder is not mags, it's my first aid kit with my Kerlix (the white stuff sticking out) and QuikClot right in the middle so I can get to it with either hand.
Years ago, military members focused on being able to get an IV started on an injured soldier while sometimes allowing additional bleeding to occur. Over time, it was discovered that the IV was of zero importance and bleeding control saves more lives than anything else. Therefore, always stop the bleeding first. Everything else comes later. CPR? Later. IV bag? Later. Broken bone splint? Later. Stop the bleeding ASAP—now.
How do you stop the bleeding? Pressure works well on most all wounds. Use your hands and weight to compress the area. Also, invest in the following items:
- QuikClot®. It stops bleeding almost instantly and is worth every penny you will have to pay for it.
- A Combat Application Tourniquet, also known as a CAT, or something similar to it. This is what I carry and I can apply them to any appendage with the use of only one hand and some teeth.
- Kerlix™ gauze rolls can be used for everything as well, so get some of those as well. Once you apply the QuikClot, put the Kerlix in the wound or over it, and go from there.
Invest in this stuff. It will save your life. Just ask Fish, or anyone else here, who would like to leave a comment about any experience with any of these items or the use of the ABCs. Please stay safe, but if you don’t, use these tips. Thanks for reading!
Now go shoot!
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