Page 112 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Summer 2014

Table 1 Cont.
Number of Number of
Mission Type Patients Percentage Mission Type Patients Percentage
Barricade (33 total missions, 15 missions with patients) Executive Protection
(19 total missions, 2 missions with patients)
Chief Complaints
Chief Complaints
Blunt Trauma 3 12.00%
Blunt Trauma 1 33.33%
Civilian On-Scene Evaluation 3 12.00%
Eye 1 33.33%
DOA 3 12.00%
Headache 1 33.33%
Fatigue/Sleep Deprivation 3 12.00%
Total Patients 3
Taser 3 12.00%
Patient Encounter Types
Sick Call-OTC meds 2 8.00%
Civilian/Bystander 1 33.33%
Suspect On-Scene Evaluation 2 8.00%
Suspect 0 0.00%
Headache 1 4.00%
Law Enforcement 2 66.67%
Heat Illness/Dehydration 1 4.00%
Tracking Team
Indigestion 1 4.00% (17 total missions, 3 missions with patients)
MSK Pain/Injury 1 4.00% Chief Complaints
Nasal Congestion/Rhinorrhea 1 4.00% Heat Illness/Dehydration 1 33.33%
Overdose/Intoxication 1 4.00% MSK Pain/Injury 1 33.33%
Total Patients 25 Upper respiratory 1 33.33%
Patient Encounter Types Total Patients 3
Civilian/Bystander 3 12.00% Patient Encounter Types
Suspect 10 40.00%
Civilian/Bystander 0 0.00%
Law Enforcement 12 48.00%
Suspect 1 33.33%
Civil Disturbance Law Enforcement 2 66.67%
(27 total missions, 6 missions with patients)
Disaster (12 total missions, 2 missions with patients)
Chief Complaints
Chief Complaints
MSK Pain/Injury 4 36.36%
Fatigue/Sleep Deprivation 2 40.00%
Sick Call-OTC meds 3 27.27%
Skin/Wound/Laceration 2 40.00%
Overdose/Intoxication 1 9.09%
Civilian On-Scene Evaluation 1 20.00%
Headache 1 9.09%
Total Patients 5
Nasal Congestion/Rhinorrhea 1 9.09%
Patient Encounter Types
Indigestion 1 9.09%
Civilian/Bystander 1 20.00%
Total Patients 11
Suspect 0 0.00%
Patient Encounter Types
Law Enforcement 4 80.00%
Civilian/Bystander 1 9.09%
Suspect 0 0.00%
Law Enforcement 10 90.91%

Discussion
operations may be of low acuity and occurring during
This analysis of clinical encounters by a state police tac- training activities. The experience of the MSP TMU
13
tical medical program represents the first of its kind to substantiates this finding. Furthermore, these data re-
our knowledge. The literature contains many anecdotal inforce the need for tactical medics to provide care for
descriptions and case reports of the clinical encoun- non–life-threatening illnesses and injuries sustained by
ters of tactical medical providers. However, there is a law enforcement tactical team personnel. This essential
paucity of studies that assess longitudinal data sets of role is not insignificant, as it serves to maintain opti-
this size. Limited prior research has suggested that the mal operational readiness of these highly trained and
majority of clinical conditions associated with tactical specialized personnel.

102 Journal of Special Operations Medicine Volume 14, Edition 2/Summer 2014