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<P>Hi, </P>
<P>Im involved in teaching firefighters on an advanced trauma course, here in the UK alot of firefighters have a maximum of basic first aid and some retained crews have no training , we a teach a similar course for workmen in remote areas </P>
<P>So to answer your question with reference to their training, </P>
<P>we find it best to start of with mentioning some of the contreversal items, for instance the instance of first aid instructors to promote clot disruption and worsen injuries by pelvic springing etc so we can justify teaching them not to do this but to rely on mechanisms of injury, kinematics and signs and symptoms (visual ones!) to determine a potential pelvic ring disruption . </P>
<P>The alternate approach of not mentioning these areas leads to constant interuption and questions throughout the course when a "problem" arrises</P>
<P>We do teach them tourniquets purely as a last ditch attempt to arrest an exsanguanating heamorraghe especially when acting as a solo rescurer , entraped casualty with no access to the bleeding site or in crush injury , we have laminated tourniquet action cards with procedure for use (steps to be taken before, time of application and to make sure of its handover)</P>
<P>As for modifying the ABCs for truama we do teach the MARCH approach to them but do not teach them not to resuscitate a trauma case, we do however mention the very poor prognosis especially in blunt chest trauma, i think at the lay level it is a bit too much to expect them to make DNR decisions</P>
<P>Hope this helps </P>
<P><BR>Regards<BR><BR> </P>
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<DIV><FONT face="Arial Black, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif"></FONT></DIV><FONT face="Arial Black, Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif">Mark Hellaby </FONT>BSc (Hons), RODP</DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></div><br clear=all><hr>Think you're a film buff? Play the <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMAENUK/2740??PS=47575" target="_top">Movie Mogul quiz </a> for a chance to win fantastic prizes</html>