Alex Ooley from the Forge of Freedom podcast and his wife took my systems collapse medical class for the second time a few weeks ago. Alex invited me to come to his podcast and discuss some of the medical issues we covered in class.
I really enjoyed this one because it wasn’t just a commercial for my class. We go pretty deep into best practices for trauma medical care in austere environments. If you haven’t taken an advanced first aid class, this podcast covers some of the basics. If you have taken a trauma medical class or even a “Stop the Bleed” class, this would be a good review of the material.
Here’s an outline of the subject matter we covered:
00:00 Introduction to Tactical Medicine and Training Background
07:00 Understanding Tactical First Aid vs. Standard First Aid
16:13 The MARCH Protocol: A Tactical Approach to Trauma
26:48 Massive Bleeding and Tourniquet Application
33:42 Tourniquet Application and Wound Packing
38:26 Understanding Tourniquet Misconceptions
46:31 Tourniquet Placement Controversies
50:17 Airway and Respiration Essentials
58:39 Addressing Opioid Overdoses with Narcan
01:04:45 Circulation and Wound Care Protocols
01:06:00 Suturing Skills: A Fun Yet Questionable Necessity
01:08:34 Wound Cleaning: The Importance of Proper Techniques
01:12:17 Wound Closure: Risks and Best Practices
01:15:54 Hypothermia and Head Injuries: Essential First Aid
01:17:07 System Collapse Medicine: Preparing for Emergencies
01:23:30 Gear Lists: Training Over Equipment
01:26:34 Beyond Tactical Medicine: Greg’s Broader Work
You can watch the podcast on YouTube.
Episode 196. Tactical First Aid and System Collapse Medicine with Greg Ellifritz
If you aren’t a YouTube user, you can also find the podcast at the following links:
This is the second time I’ve appeared on Alex’s podcast. I really appreciate his superior preparation and engaging interview style. If you want a deeper dive into some tactical medical skills that aren’t often discussed on many other podcasts, check this one out.
