Tactical Medicine Essentials

Medical support for special weapons and tactics (SWAT) units is different from civilian EMS in many ways. A tactical medical provider (TMP) is charged with providing life-saving care to downed SWAT officers and taking measures to defend against criminal suspects. Mastery of these skills requires extensive, specialized tactical emergency medical services (TEMS) training and experience in the tactical environment.Designed for EMS and medical professionals of all levels of training, Tactical Medicine Essentials provides the foundation needed to create world-class TMPs. Written by an experienced team of authors from diverse backgrounds, this text covers the essential curriculum of tactical medicine, including tactical patient assessment, expedient extrication and evacuation, and self-defense skills. It also goes into depth about the specialized equipment and techniques used by medical professionals with TEMS training and certification. Tactical Medicine Essentials thoroughly prepares medical professionals to safely accompany a SWAT unit into the tactical environment.

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) exists to support quality emergency medical care and to promote the interests of emergency physicians. The Board of Directors has identified values that serve as the guiding principles for the specialty of emergency medicine. These values, and the objectives that follow, are the foundation of ACEP's planning processes and Council and Board actions. The values of the American College of Emergency Physicians are: Quality emergency care is a fundamental right and unobstructed access to emergency services should be available to all patients who perceive the need for emergency services. There is a body of knowledge unique to emergency medicine that requires continuing refinement and development. Physicians entering the practice of emergency medicine should be residency trained in emergency medicine. Quality emergency medicine is best practiced by qualified, credentialed emergency physicians. The best interests of patients are served when emergency physicians practice in a fair, equitable, and supportive environment. Emergency physicians have the responsibility to play the lead roles in the definition, management, evaluation, and improvement of quality emergency care.The ACEP was founded in 1968 and is the world's oldest and largest and largest emergency medicine specialty organization. Today it represents more than 28,000 members and is the emergency medicine specialty society recognized as the acknowledged leader in emergency medicine.

Dr. John Wipfler is a board certified attending emergency physician and a Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. In medical school he joined the armed forces starting in 1985 and retired at the rank of Major, U.S. Army Medical Corps (Res) after 14 years of service. In 1994 as an academic emergency physician, he obtained training and additional military experience (Panama, multiple military bases) and started volunteering as a tactical physician for several SWAT teams in the Midwest. Gaining valuable experience over the past 25 plus years, he continues to serve as tactical physician and TEMS medical director for three SWAT teams and multiple law enforcement agencies in central Illinois.Since completing his internship in surgery and residency in emergency medicine, he teaches and practices medicine with the Department of Emergency Medicine at OSF Healthcare Saint Francis Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center in Peoria, Illinois. Dr. Wipfler co-founded the first tactical EMS unit in the state of Illinois, the Special Tactical Assistance Trauma Team (STATT) in 1998. He is a sworn LEO, a Sheriff’s Physician who has been involved in tactical operations for more than 220 SWAT callouts. The STATT Tactical EMS unit (five physicians, one nurse, two paramedics) supports three law enforcement tactical teams: Central Illinois Emergency Response Team (CIERT), Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm Services team (ILEAS region 6/7), and the Peoria City Police Department Special Response Team (SRT). He also supports callouts and/or training with the United States Secret Service for regional presidential motorcade escorts, United States Marshals Service (SOG), and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). He has flown SOG helicopter missions with the United States Marshals Service Special Operations Group during high-risk prisoner transport.As a certified firearms instructor who is also qualified expert in pistol, small-bore rifle, and high-power rifle marksmanship, Dr. Wipfler routinely teaches firearms safety classes integrated with tactical medicine principles. He is certified by the Illinois State Police, and along with his wife they have taught over 10 concealed carry courses. He has completed multiple military and civilian tactical/ medical courses, including the Chapman Academy (Basic and Advanced Pistol, Tactical Rifle), Combat Casualty Care Course, Counter Narcotics & Terrorism Operational Medical Support (CONTOMS), Radiation Emergency Assistance Center /Training Site (REAC/TS) radioactive injury management course, Heckler & Koch Basic and Advanced Tactical EMS courses, United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Disease (USAMRIID) Chemical and Biological Warfare School, Insights Training, and Strike Tactical Solutions close quarters combat courses.Dr. Wipfler was instrumental in starting and served as medical director of the Region 2 RMERT disaster response team in central Illinois, and has deployed on multiple real-world disasters including several large tornado strikes with mass casualties. Dr. Wipfler served with 12 others on the founding executive council for the sole state-wide disaster response agency in Illinois, the Illinois Medical Emergency Response Team (IMERT). He served for 5 years as medical director of Life Flight, and has served as a flight physician for hundreds of air medical rescues and transfers.He has coauthored textbooks on emergency medicine and firearms safety, written chapters for textbooks-including the tactical medicine chapter in the International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) text-as well as multiple tactical medicine and research papers. Dr.' Wipfler lectures internationally (Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, others) and teaches tactical medicine, disaster preparedness, bioterrorism/WMD response, and advanced emergency ultrasound at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.In 1999, Dr. Wipfler developed one of the first emergency medicine residency program tactical medicine elective rotations in the world.' This is a two week training session that over 90 percent of the EM residents at UICOMP / OSF St. Francis Residency Program complete during their three year training program.' Many have graduated and moved on to new communities where they now serve as tactical physicians throughout the USA.As the co-chair of the Illinois Tactical Officers Association (ITOA) tactical EMS committee, he has been involved in expanding TEMS in the Midwest and instructing Tactical EMS with the Chief Jeff Chudwin and the ITOA and other law agencies, and has co-chaired the annual ITOA Tactical Medicine Conference for 6 years. He gained valuable experience by teaching with Dr. Heiskell at the International School of Tactical Medicine in California for many years.In 2005 Dr. Wipfler was asked by officials with the Department of Homeland Security to serve with an 18-agency member tactical medicine coalition in California, representing the Illinois Department of Public Health Tactical Medicine Committee. This California committee worked with the California Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training and California EMS Authority (EMSA) to create the State of California Tactical Medicine Operational Program and Standardized Training Recommendations, approved in March 2010.He continues to engage in firearm competition, and 3-gun matches, advanced pistol courses, and other training helps keep his skills sharp.' Dr. Wipfler recently competed in the 2018 US National Patrol Rifle Competition in Novi, Michigan (LE only), where he scored in the top 9 shooters of over 100 law enforcement officers.' For hobbies, he enjoys scuba diving, fishing, and continues to engage in mountaineering with friends and family, having summited the Matterhorn, Mount Rainier, Mount Shasta, Mount Baker, Long’s Peak, Hallet’s Peak, and others. He and his wife are Blessed and very proud of their six children and many travels and family adventures they have shared together. 'When he initiated one of the first tactical medicine teams in the Midwest, he began teaching EM residents about tactical medicine.' At that time, in 1999, there was no formal textbook of tactical medicine, and so he was honored to serve as the lead author and join with three trusted friends (Chief Jim Smith, Dr. Heiskell, and Dr. Campbell) to assemble a textbook that gathered the input and expertise of over 120 seasoned professionals in prehospital and tactical medicine, fire, law enforcement, disaster response, military operations, and other talented individuals. Many members of the ACEP Section of Tactical Medicine were able to provide valuable expert input. The resulting textbook, published by Jones and Bartlett Learning, was endorsed by ACEP, and is now used to help educate students internationally. This new second edition was enhanced even further by additional expert reviewers and with updated information. Dr. Wipfler considers it a true honor and a privilege to medically support the brave men and women in blue and camo uniforms.

Dr. Campbell passed away in 2018. Dr. Campbell was an excellent physician, innovator, pioneer, and teacher with many outstanding achievements. Dr. Campbell was known worldwide for his innovative and groundbreaking work in developing prehospital trauma education. In 1982, Dr. Campbell founded the Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS) program. It was the first course and curriculum dedicated to prehospital trauma assessment and trauma care worldwide. He taught, alongside Colonel Jim Smith (his future co-author), and conducted the first BTLS course in August of 1982. He wanted to teach paramedics the principles of advanced trauma life support (ATLS) to improve the care provided to trauma patients. He partnered with the Alabama Chapter of ACEP to publish the first BTLS textbook in 1982. Basic Trauma Life Support has since been renamed to International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) to better reflect its scope and mission, and it is now a global organization offering 15 types of trauma courses and teaching over 30,000 students annually in over 40 countries.“John did not set out to be an EMS leader,” said ITLS Editor-in-Chief Roy Alson, PhD, MD, FACEP, who has served on the editorial board alongside Dr. Campbell for many years. “Thirty years ago, he developed a new trauma course and said, ‘Why aren’t we teaching this to EMS?’ Along the way, he convinced countless doctors, nurses, and EMS, fire, and police personnel to share his vision. The legacy John leaves is measured in the lives saved by those who have been ITLS trained. He will be missed.”Dr. Campbell had a lifelong interest in the military and supported law enforcement throughout his life. Dr. Campbell, Chief Jim Smith, Dr. Lawrence Heiskell, and Dr. John Wipfler worked together with over 120 contributors and reviewers to generate the first comprehensive textbook on tactical medicine, Tactical Medicine Essentials, which was copyrighted and published in 2012. Endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians, Dr. Campbell was able to contribute his extensive experience in the public safety prehospital arena to this textbook. The first edition has sold over 6000 copies and is used in tactical medicine education worldwide. Dr. Campbell’s legacy lives on not only in the form of ITLS, but also in the form of Tactical Medicine Essentials, Second Edition, written by his three co-authors.

'Dr. Heiskell is the founder and medical director for the International School of Tactical Medicine, the first and only state and federally approved tactical medicine school approved by the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) and the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Dr. Heiskell is residency trained and board certified in emergency medicine and family practice and has been a practicing emergency physician for more than 32 years.Prior to attending medical school, Dr. Heiskell spent 5 years with the United States Antarctic Research Program and served on three expeditions to Antarctica and the South Pole. He was awarded the Congressional Antarctic Service Medal in 1979. He has 29 years of experience as a SWAT team physician beginning as a reserve deputy with the Kern County Sheriff’s Department in Bakersfield, California. He is currently a reserve police officer and tactical physician with the Palm Springs Police Department in Palm Springs, California.Dr. Heiskell served on an 18-agency member tactical medicine coalition under the auspices of the California Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training and California Emergency Medical Authority (EMSA) to create the State of California Tactical Medicine Operational Programs and Standardized Training Recommendations.He is a graduate of Riverside Sheriff’s Office (RSO) SWAT School, National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) School, Heckler & Koch SWAT School, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) SWAT School. Dr. Heiskell has lectured extensively in the United States and abroad on tactical emergency medicine and has published over 70 articles and other publications on tactical medicine topics.'Dr. Heiskell has provided special operations emergency medical support for the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF).