Page 189 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Winter 2015

training traditionally marginalizes the bystanders and and potentially lifesaving medical care. Professional first
uninjured persons on scene. This must change. First re- responders in the United States are highly trained and are
sponders must be familiar with the capabilities of the the cornerstone of high-threat disaster response; how-
FCP and their operational plans must incorporate these ever, there exists a very real operational gap between
available providers as force multipliers in the response. existing doctrine, public expectations, and operational
The new model must train first responders to identify capabilities. The evolving threat matrix and escalating
the FCP, conduct a rapid threat assessment, appropri- complexity of mass violence incidents will overwhelm
ately gauge the FCP skill level, provide clear assignments most professional response agencies and demands initia-
to the FCP, and utilize the FCP as a force multiplier. tion of a community-based response network. FCPs are
critical to mitigating this risk. FCPs should be trained in
the tenets of the TECC guidelines similar to their first
First Care Provider Training
response agencies. The TECC FCP model will produce
The FCP model empowers community members to take an educated populace that can serve as critical force
lifesaving actions. Data from across the globe demon- multipliers during mass casualty incidents and provide
strate that training individuals empowers action and a seamless transition of care for traumatic injury during
improves survival from medical and traumatic emer- routine operations.
gencies. 8–10 Trained FCPs demonstrate a willingness to
operate independently, are able to recognize critical in- References
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be the ultimate goal and can be accomplished with a 5. Jacobs L, Burns KJ. The Hartford Consensus to improve sur-
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of Survival. The FCP decreases the time between injury

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