Tactical Medicine: An Introductory To Law Enforcement Emergency Care

The book is written unevenly, has poor quality photos, virtually no suggestions on techniques and very uneven coverage of equipment. There must be a better tactical medical book out there, for a start "Ditch Medicine" by Coffee is at least helpful, if somewhat dated.


a good introduction for the platoon leader and the EMT-B   October 28, 2003
 3 out of 5 found this review helpful

I suppose that I should spit out my resume as well: I was a combat medic with The Infantry. When I got out I obtained a paramedic license and a BS in Biology, then I worked heavy rescue, and after growing bored I joined the Los Angeles Police Department and currently work in South Central LA. That being said, the first forty pages of the book were put togeather in a very simple to understand and systematic manner.
Frankly speaking there was a great deal of filler information placed amongst the first half of the book, and i believe (from a tactics point of view) the second half of the book to be filler information as well. Notwithstanding my point of view as a medic, if I were a platoon leader looking for a guide to lay out the responsibilities of my medical support this book could not be better suited. I in fact sent the book to a LT in the National Guard. As the back cover of the book indicates this is also an excellent resource for an individual new to the medical field and looking for a specialty. This book provides the flavor of tactical medicine, and makes for a nice introduction to the field.


REAL WORLD Tactical Medicine   February 20, 2003
 7 out of 9 found this review helpful

I serve as the Medical Director, ALS provider, and entry medic for a four county, seven agency regional tactical LE organization, as well as direct and respond with 3 EMS agencies and 1 SAR unit. In addition to this, I also currently serve as Medical Director for the Nebraska Panhandle Public Health Board and as Physician Representative for the Nebraska Panhandle Trauma Board. I also serve as Medical Director for the national SAR team in Belize, Central America, and consult for that government regarding prehospital & village care issues. I have 25 years experience in military & civilian TEMS, EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement, & Technical Rescue. With that said...

Focusing on LE & urban TacMed, as opposed to military tactical medicine, it provides an excellent overview of the state of the art as it is understood today. This is not a comprehensive textbook of medical care that takes you from square one, but instead teaches the unique priorities, techniques, and equipment needed for this environment. As such, it either will be an overview and motivator to go and get training for those without a background in field medicine, or a specific reference for those with prior medical experience wanting to make the transition to the tactical environment.

It will also be an excellent resource for those needing yammoy to take to Administration. It is small enough that an administrator could read it, if you can find one that can read. Otherwise there are pictures and lists, and you can point to them and say ySee, the book says so.y

Seriously, this is going to be a handy reference for explaining the tactical medical environment to those not familiar with the concept, and immediately absorbable by those with prior medical training. Itys a welcome addition to the sparse field of tactical medicine reference material.

To criticize this book for being "anecdotal" is to miss the point. It was intended to be such. This is not a text. It's an introduction and overview, illustrated by what works for the author. And anyone who feels that the material presented does not reflect mainstream thinking in the TEMS community, isn't in the current mainstream. This material represents cutting edge thinking, rather than the static material and curriculums still being taught in too many programs.

If you have an interest in this field, this is a great book. Buy it!