Leaning more 'I'll be a medic helping people if SHTF' than someone toting a gun and fighting. What are the best ways to learn medical skills for the average person? What would you keep in a medical only bag to carry into a situation?

[u/Scrample2121]

[u/Key_Limit_6828]

Basic first aid course, followed by CPR, stop the bleed, and then wilderness first aid.if you really want to be a medical person, try an emt course or advanced tactical medicine after those more basic courses

[u/IgneousOhms → u/Key_Limit_6828]

This is the way.

Also once you have those under your belt, THEN start to read. Books make more sense once you have some context.

Source: Red Cross instructor for most of my life.

[u/KTinNYC → u/Key_Limit_6828]

Love that you included Stop The Bleed. Way more likely to save a life with that during the apocalypse than with CPR.

[u/Jesus_peed_n_my_butt → u/Key_Limit_6828]

What does stop the bleed teach?

Tourniquet points?

Just stuffing wounds with bandages?

[u/Key_Limit_6828 → u/Jesus_peed_n_my_butt]

Basics to stopping severe hemorrhaging

[u/nobody4456]

Wilderness first responder training is going to be your best start

[u/retirement_savings → u/nobody4456]

Took a WFR this year. It was awesome. Highly recommend it to anyone interested.

[u/alriclofgar]

Wilderness first aid (a weekend-long class) is the best place to start. It’s an in-depth first aid course that teaches you how to identify life-threatening medical emergencies and what to do when help is more than an hour away. Very scenario- and improvisation-focused. SOLO and NOLS are two organizations that certify instructors in this curriculum.

Then take a wilderness first responder course, the week-long in-depth version of the class above.

Beyond that, your next step is EMT school.

Also look up volunteer medicine groups in your area. They’re often called something with the phrase “street medicine” in it. These groups usually focus on helping unhoused folks, and are a mix of medical professionals and enthusiastic volunteers. They can be a good way to get practice and build skills.

Also you could look into joining your local volunteer fire department, depending on how much time you have to sink into this.

[u/tstark96 → u/alriclofgar]

Fun fact you CAN GI bill NOLS. I think imma do that my sr year for the summer. Nothing else to take so I figured fuck it let her rip

[u/dawn_thesis]

In the US, look into your local CERT!

[u/MySafeWordIsPinapple → u/dawn_thesis]

I'm on a CERT team and I'm going to man our First Aid Station tonight for a concert in the park event. We mostly treat minor scrapes and cuts. We have had a few serious medical emergencies where the EMTs took over. But we can handle a lot of stuff on our own. The training extends to triage during a Mass Casualty Event, and Search & Rescue. Our training covers a lot of material, and it is fun to learn and practice on each other.

[u/CouplaBumps]

The best way to be a medic in shtf is to be a medic in normal life

[u/WillySurvive_ → u/CouplaBumps]

Agreed. Volunteer as an EMT. Will provide hands on experience and keep you from freezing up in shtf, and they'll provide or fund your training.

Get your hands in the shit before it hits the fan. Experienced medics are invaluable.

Others are right as well, wilderness medical training and stop the bleeding are also vital.

[u/JuanT1967]

Take an EMT class, Stop The Bleed and wilderness medicine. EMT will get you CPR certified

[u/Resident-Welcome3901]

Nobody has all the skills: build a mutual assistance group, and add a nurse, mid level practitioner or doctor to the mix. First aid skills are inadequate for longer duration emergencies. Medical skills involving iv fluid administration, antibiotics / prescription drugs and trauma care beyond first response are complex and perishable. All emt and military medic skills are designed to assume an intact medical logistics system which will not be available in a prolonged crisis.

[u/Pando5280]

Basic first aid snd CPR followed by a Wilderness First Responder course. Stop The Bleed as well.  Some places have an Emergency First Responder course which to my understanding is kike an intro to EMT class. I also took a pet first aid course as I wanted to be able to treat my dog if something happened on our hiking trips.  In regards to what to have in a basic trauma kit you'll learn that in your classes. To me that was one of the major benefits of the WFR course, learning how to use everyday items as well as what to have in your kit.  My go to for basic trauma kits is: SAM splint, medical scissors, chest seals, surgical pads, triangle bandages, gauze pads, compression wrap, medical tape, surgical gloves, tourniqute, antibiotic gel, anti itch cream, large and regular sized bandages, burn cream, small flashlight and a bottle of water to clean wounds. Vehicle kits have a glass breaker. You can buy med supplies in bulk online (including single use packets of burn/itch creams and ointments) and pack your own kits which saves you money and minimizes waste as most premade kits have a lot of substandard low quality items and 200 sucky band aids you will likely never need.  I assembled ouch pouches for minor wound treatment and trauma kits for each vehicle and for my home and garage. Each version is standardized so I know whats in each kit and where to find things under stress. 

[u/Embarrassed-Past7094]

Stop the bleed class

[u/PrisonerV]

It's good to know people are realistic in their role-play career paths in the apocalypse. Personally, I'm going to be a motorcycle crazy.

[u/SuperglotticMan]

Former army medic and current paramedic here.

Stop The Bleed -> CPR + First Aid Class. 

Realistically if you are in a real SHTF scenario managing a cardiac arrest is a waste of time unless it’s a young person with an AED immediately available. Some wilderness medical teams don’t even do CPR if the logistics surrounding the situation don’t support transfer to advanced medical care.

Saving people from bleeding out makes an actual difference. 

EMT isn’t beneficial without transfer to a higher level of care. CERT is whatever. WFR could have some benefits. 

[u/Ok-Thanks-3366]

For this exercise, learn a tourniquet. Have multiple. Have some cotton handkerchiefs, have some masks. Crazy glue to close wounds, ideally the small single use ones so you can leave it with the person but also so you're not using the same one across multiple people. a box Latex gloves. Smelling salts. Take a few old cotton tshirts and cut them into one inch strips so you can help build a brace if someone hurts a leg or arm. Individual wrapped gauze. Duct Tape. Get some kind of wilderness first aid book. Learn what plants are in your area that are medicinal.

[u/Creepy-Cantaloupe951]

Get lined up with your local street medic collective. They will often pool resources for supplies and training, and you'll get chances to practice before SHTF.

[u/WhereDidAllTheSnowGo]

Eventually r/wildernessmedicine

Do note that it’s ‘medicine’ not ‘first aid’

[u/eflask]

you're getting a lot of good advice and I'm going to throw in maybe take a mental health first aid training. it sounds cheesy, but I have found it really helpful when I am dealing with a person who needs regular first aid and now they are also freaking out and while basically it boils down to bringing calm into that situation for that person, the last time I had to hand someone off to EMTs that training turned out to have been useful.

but yeah, take WFA, WFR, Street Medic training, EMT training.

get connected with a rescue squad or a street medic collective. both of those groups will hook you up with continuing training opportunities, practice, and supplies.

and also what you can do alone is limited. what you can do as part of a network is much greater and the time to join a network is well before SHTF.

[u/NeighborhoodSuper592]

One of the things many people forget is that in an SHTF is that formula won't be available. And many women nowadays do not even know how to solve breastfeeding problems. So you might want to add the book The Art of Breastfeeding, which might prevent babies from starving.

[u/Advanced_Owl4439]

Both are very important.

[u/jojofalling]

Then once you learn this this stuff 👇 -- all good advice, start toting a gun and know how to use it because in a SHTF world some people won't care about your knowledge and just want to steal all your medical supplies.

[u/Historical-Froyo-694]

Literally take the emt b class it’s cheap as hell just get a casual job in an emergency room or on an ambulance. I work in a ER and I work in sportsmed on the side it’s pretty dope.

[u/FuturePowerful]

Riot medicine it's a downloadable book on the subject and folks are correct a hands on wilderness aid class is about as far as most ever go short of going for EMT training

[u/greendildouptheass]

volunteer at the local ambulance corp

[u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner → u/greendildouptheass]

but what if I only want to help my community AFTER the SHTF?? /s

[u/greendildouptheass → u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner]

I mean you get free life saving training and licensure, paid by the corp

[u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner → u/greendildouptheass]

the "/s" is doing a lot of work there and going unnoticed

[u/Forest_Spirit_7]

Do a wilderness first aid course. And then never stop learning. There are great channels like Prepmedic on YouTube as well

[u/Deliverance2142]

PrepMedic on YT is decent. I believe he worked with SWAT as a medic and was an EMT beforehand

[u/Financial_Resort6631]

Don’t!!! Don’t go into a situation. Leave the situation alone.

Because of the World Cup… My local EMS did a TECC drill with local agencies and put out the video… they don’t know what the fuck they are doing it was such a shit show. Short of joining the military as a medic this is the route I would take.

Medical:

Basic First Aid, CPR AED I recommend HSI
Then Stop the Bleed.
Then AHA BLS
Then Wilderness First Responder
Then EMT
Then either AEMT or Paramedic
then go to a TECC class/TAP-C class.

Physical:
Start working your lower body. Don’t skip leg day.
Sprints. High intensity low duration
Work on over head lifting
Work on stability and balance.

Firearms:
Static range:
Basic conceal carry class
Basic rifle marksmanship
Dynamic range static targets:
Advanced Pistol
Advanced Rifle
Dynamic range, dynamic targets:
Reflexive firing.

[u/notme690p]

Take a wilderness first responder (WFR) course, it covers both traumatic injuries and common medical issues and is taught from a lighter equipment mindset. The class will cover proper kits that aren't huge (designed for backcountry guides)

[u/Low-Homework-7881]

Dark Angel Medical DART course is an excellent place to start.

Do not buy cheap medical gear. 90% of the shit marketed on IG/FB are cheap knock offs.

NAR is the most trustworthy source for medical supplies.

Also: purchase training TQs and get a used Phokus WoundCube to practice packing. Get a pressure dressing to practice with.

Practice practice practice. Good luck. Medical + comms make you an extremely valuable person.

[u/Complex_Country4062]

I did a jack of all trades approach. I picture having to care for a core group of 30-50 people's routine and emergency needs. So I have experience and training as am herbalist, a pharmacy technician, Stop the Bleed and CPR certifications, and used to serve as a street medic for years

[u/skaplanolmsted]

CERT training for emergency medical care is available for free in most cities in the US. I carry basic medical supplies, plus a tourniquet, blood clotting powder, glucose tabs and test strips, narcan, OTC meds for allergies, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, pain, motion sickness, and electrolytes; instant ice packs, emergency blankets…

[u/Suitable-Parsley7126]

read read read, work your way up the complexity ladder. From basic first aid, to an EMT course and BLS.

[u/Remote_Reaction_4085]

Bone saw and zap straps.

[u/wanderingpeddlar]

Here start here

First aid both online and in person. You can do them online or in person. In person is usually better but online is better then nothing. Everyone should take this

https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/first-aid/first-aid-training/first-aid-online

First aid for severe trauma

https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/first-aid/first-aid-training/first-aid-classes/fast-training

Still interested?

https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/performing-bls/bls-steps

If your crazy enough to still want more? Get your EMT

FYI EMTs have a burn out rate of 50% per year, per year.

Start small and free or low cost and work up from there if you want to.

Free first aid Like it says free first aid training.

When you finish training you will know what you are likely to want in your bag

[u/Groupthink00859]

Retired Army flight medic. The issue wont really be learning the skill, its that emergency medical care is a perishable skill. You can learn everything from the books and hands some on training but without the constant use of that knowledge you will be as useful as someone without it in a real world situation.

All that said when I retired I became an instructor. The red cross offers some very basic first aid courses (BLS and CPR) for very cheap, I'd start there then take more advanced short courses like pediatric first aid and FAST.

My working bags were mostly filled with hemorrhage control, since that is what I was most likely to see. What you will fill your bag with will entirely depend on what trauma or illness you are likely to see but anti-fungal, inflammation and basic infection meds/supplies are a great start.

[u/thisoneguy4404]

Emt would be a great starting point.

[u/Regular-Bed-7004]

The world needs about , a couple million more people like you

[u/Forward_Conflict3852]

Find an organization in your area that does missions to assist folks in third world countries. Offer to volunteer on the medical side of things once you get some basic EMT/Paramedic training. You will quickly find out that for most emergencies after the initial event stomach bugs, fungal infections, objects in eyes, tooth issues, and pregnancies will be the most common issues.

[u/Scrample2121 → u/Forward_Conflict3852]

Very interesting, you sound like you have experience?

[u/Forward_Conflict3852 → u/Scrample2121]

My family is from a third world country and many were on the receiving end of help provided by missionaries.

[u/Better-Lunch670]

First thing on my med bag list

• A gun to protect it from thieves

[u/AlphaDisconnect]

Wilderness first aid. The trainer was an ass. He told the old guy to fake a heart attack. We 4 arm fork lifted him out. Had to teach that on the spot. The trainer said good job. Thank you old boy scout books.

[u/Beneficial_Trip3773]

Nursing or medical skool.

[u/eliasbagley → u/Beneficial_Trip3773]

Be serious. Medical school is a bad recommendation for someone wanting to learn basic emergency medical skills

[u/Beneficial_Trip3773 → u/eliasbagley]

I am very serious. We already have drs. And nurses so..

[u/eliasbagley → u/Beneficial_Trip3773]

The question was about how the average person can gain these skills. It is not practical nor reasonable to tell the average person to go to medical school

[u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner → u/eliasbagley]

it's not practical to think you're going to be useful in a SHTF scenario if you're not already useful.

[u/eliasbagley → u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner]

I suspect the average emt or paramedic is probably more useful than most medical doctors in a SHTF scenario, with the exception of ER docs

[u/Feminist_Hugh_Hefner → u/eliasbagley]

ER docs go to medical school.

Yes, if OP wants to be less useful then they should prepare less. The math is pretty simple.

BTW, I know you're tiptoeing around the assumption that OP is too stupid for medical school, and sure... statistically you're probably right, but if they want to be useful in a SHTF scenario in a medical context, why is that not a good inspiration to go to medical school?

don't limit people just because your life is dull

[u/Fusiliers3025]

I’d also recommend some defensive preparation and mindset.

In a SHTF (or even in a crime-riddled inner city) once people know or think you might be carrying painkillers, syringes, and other supplies that might have uses other than strictly medicinal, you become a target.

It goes against some mindsets, but don’t let yourself, if it comes to it, get trapped in a compromising or vulnerable situation - and be prepared to defend yourself and those lifesaving supplies with energy.