Page 179 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Summer 2015

TECC, RTF, and other escorted “warm-zone” response R. Mathews, R. Smith; personal communications, Janu-
models domestically and internationally. ary 2015). Recently, the American College of Surgeons
Committee on Trauma published evidence-based guide-
Additionally, C-TECC members continue to be active lines that added further support to the TECC guidelines
members of the Interagency Planning Group and work- and expanded use of prehospital tourniquets. 2
shop faculty and facilitators during Joint Counter Ter-
rorism Awareness Workshop Series (JCTAWS) deliveries Retrospective data from Iraq and Afghanistan clearly
throughout the nation. JCTAWS is a 2-day event that demonstrate that early, appropriate tourniquet applica-
prepares jurisdictions for responding to the threat and tion saves lives. Now, anecdotal civilian reports sup-
3–5
consequences of a complex attack on their cities. The port that law enforcement-applied tourniquets also save
workshops are sponsored by the Department of Home- lives. Unfortunately, no national or regional database
land Security (DHS) FEMA, Federal Bureau of Investi- exists yet to capture law enforcement (LE) life-saving
gation, and National Counter Terrorism Center. TECC interventions (LSI). The Carolinas Medical Center Divi-
and High-Threat Incident/All-Hazard Response are sion of Operational and Disaster Medicine is developing
prominently featured throughout JCTAWS. a database to address this knowledge gap. Agencies will
(and have already) voluntarily provide data on LE LSI
Accompanying the JCTAWS workshops, FEMA’s Office and assist with the acquisition of additional supporting
of Counter Terrorism and Security Preparedness has also documentation as necessary. The goal is to document in-
sponsored several Technical Assistance (TA) deliveries terventions and attempt to link these data to outcomes.
to jurisdictions seeking help in developing their TECC Currently, law enforcement agencies from Arizona,
programs. The TAs have been delivered throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Illinois
the nation to cities, including Boston, Massachusetts; have provided data on trauma care provided by offi-
Charlotte, North Carolina; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; cers in tactical and nontactical encounters. The program
Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; San Francisco, managers hope that this database can be used in coor-
California; and Chicago, Illinois. dination with the Law Enforcement Officers Killed and
Assaulted (LEOKA) database, Violence Against Law
Officer Research (VALOR) project, and other organiza-
C-TECC and NTIC Coordination
tions (e.g., American College of Emergency Physicians,
The leadership of the National TEMS Initiative and National Association of EMS Physicians, National Tac-
Council and C-TECC have worked closely since the tical Officers Association, Special Operations Medical
inception of both organizations. The recent DHS- Association, or International Association of Chiefs of
sponsored forums on active-shooter response acknowl- Police) directed initiatives to shape the public policy
edged the need for common operating language and discussion surrounding the appropriate allocation of re-
principles across both Special Operations and conven- sources for training and response.
tional civilian first response. Partially as a result of these
observations, a small group of stakeholders is convening Strategic Future: Call for Action to
to further streamline the integration of TECC principles Unite Military to Civilian Lessons Learned
and alignment of mission statements.
Since its inception, C-TECC has worked carefully and
closely with members of various military and tactical
Statement on Patrol Tourniquets
medical communities, including Committee on Tactical
The C-TECC strongly supports the development and de- Combat Casualty Care, SOMA, ACEP Civilian Tactical
ployment of comprehensive patrol tourniquet programs. Emergency Medical Support section, NAEMSP, and the
NTOA to ensure the appropriate and complete transla-
tion of military medical lessons learned. While exploring
Supporting Rationale
the military experience, C-TECC has been able to account
In 2011, the C-TECC published its first set of guidelines. for the significant differences between civilian resources,
1
This document, now 4 years old, clearly articulated the patient populations, and systems when developing the
importance of law-enforcement tourniquet application guidelines. The TECC guidelines are now the civilian
in the TECC Trauma Chain of Survival and recom- standard of care for high-threat medical incidents and
mended it as a skill set for all law enforcement personnel. the C-TECC continues to work with other stakeholders
These original TECC guidelines served as the scientific to advance and evolve the guidelines. C-TECC affirms
6–9
support for patrol tourniquet programs in Wisconsin, its commitment to partner with interested entities to con-
Indiana, Illinois, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, tinue leading the effective translation of military lessons
Arizona, and Florida (D. Callaway, C. Cook, A. Fisher, learned and grow the area of high-threat medical care.

The Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care 169