After the Las Vegas Massacre I decided to take a CCW-focused medical class, here's what I learned

Disclaimer: I'm not a professional, this is not medical advice, and I may not remember every detail perfectly. I recommend taking a class.Why I took the class58 people died at Las Vegas and nobody in the crowd was able to shoot back. In many mass shooting scenarios a concealed weapon could have made a difference. In this case, unless I were inside the hotel and therefore relatively safe anyway, a handgun would have been no help. Meanwhile I'd be watching people take rounds, and possibly hit myself, completely helpless while people died waiting for EMS. That didn't sit right with me, so I signed up for Tac Med EDC with Lone Star Medics. Took the class yesterday.How we know this stuffThe so-called War on Terror has been going on for 16 years, and a lot of lessons have been learned about how to keep people alive far from a hospital when they've just been ventilated with an AK. Just ask our 18D guys.Scene safetyFirst step is scene safety. If there's shooting going on, get to cover and return fire if possible. Once all threats are neutralized, check yourself for any injuries and treat yourself first. Assuming you're good, get any casualties to cover (drag if necessary) and assess them while continually scanning for threats. Assess them and treat them in CAB order—Circulatory, Airway, Breathing. If they're bleeding from an extremity you can get a tourniquet around, put one on. If the tourniquet doesn't control the bleeding or the wound is in a place you can't get a tourniquet on, pack the wound with combat gauze. (If you get the above down, you can address 60% of preventable causes of death in combat.) If they have a punctured lung, apply a chest seal. (If you get that down as well, you can address 93% of preventable causes of death in combat.)Carries & DragsIf they can walk or crawl to cover, tell them to do that. If they can't, scan for threats and address as necessary. If it's safe to come out from cover and move them to cover, you may decide to do so, depending on how much risk you want to expose yourself to. Two people is easier; have one person reach under their armpits and grab them by the wrists, the other person can reach under their knees, lift together on a count of 3, walk. If there's nobody to help you, reach under their armpits and grab them by the wrists, then lift a bit and drag backward. Keep your head up and scanning.TourniquetsThe SOFTT-W is a proven option. Here's how to apply the tourniquet. The CAT is also acceptable but has major drawbacks. The RATS, which I had bought previously because it's so easy to carry, is apparently a terrible design with no data to support its effectiveness in combat. Your pants belt is not a tourniquet.Combat gauzeFor packing wounds that have blood spurting out of them, when a tourniquet can't be applied or isn't enough. QuikClot apparently works well. Here's how to apply combat gauze. It's got a hemostatic agent in it, meaning it encourages clotting, meaning it stops bleeding.Chest sealsPeel and stick. Russell makes a good chest seal. It's vented, so you don't have to worry about "burping" the chest seal as air escapes the lungs and fills the body cavity—one less thing to learn and have to manage. A person can have a punctured lung even when there isn't a big obvious hole in the lung area; bullets can change direction inside the body. If someone is having trouble breathing, check for bullet holes anywhere on the torso. You could find they're breathing out the side of their neck, etc.All in one kitsAnkle kit, much like an ankle holster for a subcompact handgunPocket kit, lacks a chest sealScenariosWe did some scenarios and learned where we were weaker and stronger. Just about everybody could get a tourniquet on in 12 seconds or less, which was good. Few people managed cover well. There was a lot of running out into the open unnecessarily or without securing the scene properly. I recommend you take a class so you can run through scenarios and find out what you can improve on.FinPlease let me know if this was helpful or if there's something I should add. via /r/CCW http://ift.tt/2yWTG5g