Operational Medicine in Disasters

L Aw E Nforcement S Pecial O Perations M Edical S Upport

“…Informal analyses of case reports from extended SWAT, military, and other TEMS operations have illustrated how some of the nontraumatic medical problems seen in these types of operations, such as food-and water-borne illnesses and sleep/wake cycle disturbances, may be prevented. 4 The preventive medicine efforts in TEMS are ongoing. Even before a mission is assigned, TEMS providers make sure that the team is medically ready by identifying and immunizing those individuals in need of immunizations, and by verifying that each operator has a completed baseline medical information form on file with the medical support team or in his pocket.…”

Randomised controlled trial comparing marksmanship following application of a tourniquet or haemostatic clamp in healthy volunteers

“…TM is typically embedded within the fabric of such operations, which require a strict focus on task completion 15. In many, if not most, of these activities, there can be no separation of medicine from the mission, meaning no evacuations, minimal if no distraction from the mission and little if any care can be provided by others to a casualty.…”

Ethical Considerations in Embedding a Surgeon in a Military or Civilian Tactical Team

“…Complicating matters further is the blurred line between military and civilian trauma. Semi-automatic handguns that fire rounds at muzzle velocities approaching or exceeding rifle velocity (2200 feet/second) are now available; urban bombings create blast injuries, and inner city violence has reached epidemic proportions in some locales 4 . Concerns regarding nuclear, biologic, and chemical (NBC) weaponry have come to the forefront as well 5 , 6 …”

“…Semi-automatic handguns that fire rounds at muzzle velocities approaching or exceeding rifle velocity (2200 feet/second) are now available; urban bombings create blast injuries, and inner city violence has reached epidemic proportions in some locales. 4 Concerns regarding nuclear, biologic, and chemical (NBC) weaponry have come to the forefront as well. 5,6 The tactical police surgeon (TPS) potentially fills the need for advanced medical and surgical skill for stabilization of the injured officer, suspect, or innocent bystander.…”