News

NCSP Delivers Workshop on Tactical Emergency Casualty Care

19 July, 2012

Following its recent commitment to train the EMS community in different aspects of emergency care, the NCSP presented the Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) workshop at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany, New York. Personnel from various EMS, fire, and law enforcement agencies across New York attended the workshop, which lasted from June 19-June 20. The workshop was taught by NCSP subject matter expert instructors and instructors from the Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care and the George Washington University.

Adapted from the military's Tactical Combat Casualty Care, TECC seeks to provide civilian emergency responders with the skills to treat patients in a rapidly changing, high threat environment. The workshop builds on the knowledge and training participants already possess and applies those everyday skills to less common, high stress situations. TECC is divided into three phases of care (in increasing quality and complexity): Direct Threat, Indirect Threat, and Evacuation Care.

The group of seventy participants, comprised of local, state, and federal First Responders from various disciplines, participated in exercises at the training center that related to the main aspects of TECC. On the first day, participants were introduced to the development and implementation of TECC principles. Working in groups they practiced a number of TECC techniques, and concluded the day with a discussion of their performance.

On the second day of the workshop, participants were introduced to basic triage techniques. They again worked in groups to practically apply these skills. Participants were also able to utilize the lessons and techniques they had learned from the first day as the instructors simulated various real-world emergency situations, ensuring that the participants were familiar and comfortable with administering proper emergency care in both typical and atypical scenarios. The workshop closed with a review of the participants' strengths and deficiencies in administering TECC techniques.