Police prehospital trauma care and hemorrhage control training as an indicator for elevated performance: A systematic review of literature

Abstract

The global escalation of terrorist and felonious assaults in the civilian environment along with the Emergency Medical Services lack of training in tactical emergency casualty care lead the police forces to look for new training strategies regarding penetrating trauma management from Law Enforcement Personnel. USA police agencies approached the military committee for guidelines due to similarities presented between civilian incidents and warfare. Therefore, modified Tactical Emergency Casualty Care programs were developed. These programs were also adapted by the Hellenic Police Force, along with German, Italian, French and British Police. The aim was to elevate Law Enforcement Officers medical knowledge and practical skills in bleeding control, tension pneumothorax and airway management using hemostatic dressings, tourniquets, decompression needles and nasopharyngeal tubes respectively, in an ongoing situation. It is evident that LEOs training nowadays is more demanding as far as it concerns severe and life-threatening injury management, resulting to increased self-confidence and medical skill development. On the other hand, such training should be accessible and cost-efficient to the majority of field-operating personnel.