Emergencies on the range - how prepared are you?

[Chuck]

Interesting wee article - I know on ranges abroad there's always full kit and explanatins of what to do, is it the same here?

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016 ... Newsletter

Would people devote the time and investment to acquire a proper first aid qualification that gives training in gunshot wound treatment?

Do ranges / clubs carry a proper first aid kit for such events - no matter how unlikely - or is it just a case of a standard HSE first aid kit as you'd find in an office or shop? How many ranges (especially remote ranges) have an AED machine and suitably trained people to use them?

[Duey]

I carry a basic first aid kit in my drag bag and have done since I started shooting
Not sure how useful it would be for a gun shot though
Thankfully never had to reach for it to date so keeping fingers crossed on that one
Not that I have any first aid training but better to have something that may be of use than nothing at all

Duey

[tackb]

i have first aid training but not specifically in gunshot wounds so I would treat them with the knowledge I have. I carry army field dressings as the ones you normally buy are woefully inadequate for a major injury (found out through experience!)

I'd be more concerned with heart attacks with the age and fitness demographic of most of our shooters.

[froggy]

Well... I always carry aspirins & sticky plasters, does that count ?
and if all of that fails I can sing a mean & moving "Ich hatt einen Kameraden" in French, but not so well in German

If anybody interested, I am trying to put together a "tactical trauma" training class (*) latter this year or early next year. Kit is useless unless you can use it properly with a minimum of training.

(*) in plain English : "what am I gonna do if somebody gets shot ?"

Foul language removed by admin, take heed of the forum rules

[DL.]

I carry trauma gear in my car for this sort of occurrence.

I've got a litre of hartmanns and an intraosseous giving set plus a couple of large bore cannulas in case IV access is achievable. There is the other usual stuff in there like oral pharyngeal airways, chest seals etc.

[tackb]

and you need more than one person trained because the law of sod says that if only one is trained he will be the one that gets shot !

[Blackstuff]

i have first aid training but not specifically in gunshot wounds so I would treat them with the knowledge I have. I carry army field dressings as the ones you normally buy are woefully inadequate for a major injury (found out through experience!)

I'd be more concerned with heart attacks with the age and fitness demographic of most of our shooters.

This without a doubt. However if its on an MOD range you need a 'trained' first aider to be able to shoot, but its the 3-5 day training job which I doubt covers gun shot wounds, but does cover traumatic bleeding. There are a few military personnel in my outdoor club that have battlefield medic training though and I know at least one of them carries extra equipment more suited to that type of injury. But I think the above is far and away the more likely cause of a medical emergency on most UK ranges.

[Racalman]

My club has half a dozen trained First Aiders. Some have the H&S At Work qualification, others were trained at a session organised by the club. We all carry First Aid kits and usually there are at least three of us at each shoot.

I would agree that a cardiac arrest (due to old age or genetic disorder) is the most likely emergency scenario and a defib would be a good idea (they're easy to use these days and don't require special training) but the cost rules it out for us. I don't know if Bisley or the MoD ranges have them.

[Chuck]

This without a doubt. However if its on an MOD range you need a 'trained' first aider to be able to shoot, but its the 3-5 day training job which I doubt covers gun shot wounds, but does cover traumatic bleeding

Would there be interest in such a course, properly certificated probably run over four days (like a long weekend)?? Venue at maybe a club or other venue?

[Blackstuff]

There probably would be interest from a handful of the usual volunteers but unless the club was also willing to stump up for the extra equipment (and keep it current/in date) that would be needed to put such training into practice then I don't think it would be worth it.