TCCC ( TC3 )
TACTICAL COMBAT CASUALTI CARE
Internationally-Cecognised Certification

WHAT IS TCCC?

It has been found that basic first aid practices, which have been used for many years and have not been changed much over time, are not very effective in increasing survival rates in explosive and firearm injuries that occur in conflicts. The US Department of Defence developed the TCCC in 1996, which is a standard for first aid training and practice.

PURPOSE OF TCCC

The aim of the TCCC is to eliminate preventable deaths on the battlefield, especially in injuries resulting from firearms or explosions and resulting in fatalities.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT TCCC

In 2005, TCCC training became standard training for all US armed forces through the Committee on TCCC (CoTCCC) which was established within the US armed forces. The TCCC Committee includes 42 experts in the field, including field-experienced soldiers and paramedics from all branches of the armed forces, and civilian emergency medicine specialists.

The most important factor in making TCCC training compulsory is that the rate of preventable deaths due to excessive bleeding, pneumothorax, and airway obstruction in the US army is 24%, while this rate remains at 3% in special units using TCCC algorithms. In other words, special units have eliminated almost all preventable deaths by using tourniquets, hemostatic blood stoppers, needle decompression, and nasal airways.

The TCCC committee meets every 4 years to update the training modules in light of scientific data and also approves field-tested TCCC materials and equipment. The US Department of Defence, which holds the copyright of TCCC training, has made an agreement with the American Association of Paramedics (NAEMT) to develop training modules in order to disseminate this training in the NATO member armies. The US Department of Defence also signed an agreement with the International PreHospital Medicine Institute (IPHMI) in 2019. Certified training is provided all over the world through these two institutions.

For the first time in our country, internationally approved and certified TCCC training have been offered by BÜYÜK AYI since 2020. TCCC's training materials are made freely available to everyone as open source. However, it only accepts the certificates issued by NAEMT and IPHMI centers approved by the US Department of Defence. The TCCC courses we provide as BÜYÜK AYI are internationally valid, certified courses, valid for four years, and approved by the International PreHospital Medicine Institute (IPHMI), one of the two institutions authorized by the US Department of Defence worldwide. Our trainings are supplemented with theoretical lectures, skill applications, and scenario studies.

The aim of the courses is not to teach tactical combat practices, but to teach tactical casualty care practices. However, in order to make tactical casualty care practices and scenarios realistic, some day-and-night conflict scenarios can be created according to the content of the training module and the needs of the participants receiving training.

STATISTICAL DATA

According to the statistics conducted by the US Department of Defence, 90% of the soldiers who are wounded on the battlefield die on the battlefield or during evacuation, before reaching a health institution where they can receive medical support. Ten percent of those who die as a result of injuries die during the treatment process in health institutions. This finding shows how important and life-saving first aid applications on the battlefield and during an evacuation are.

TCCC training and practices are the most important factor in ensuring the survival of casualties until they can benefit from tactical evacuation and extensive casualty treatment. Studies have shown that 24 percent of the injuries that occur on the battlefield and result in death are actually preventable deaths. Sixty percent of preventable deaths are caused by severe bleeding in the arms and legs, 33 percent by open chest injuries, and 6 percent by problems due to airway obstruction.

PRINCIPLES OF THE TCCC

Treat the casualty
Prevent additional damage to the casualty
Complete the mission

TCCC TRAINING MODULES

TCCC-ASM (ALL SERVICE MEMBERS) (TACTICAL CASUALTY CARE FOR ALL)

It is a casualty care training developed for all civilians ( clerks, drivers, gardeners, caretakers, etc.) or official personnel working in military or official institutions, who do not have a battlefield duty. The aim is to prevent the death of individuals due to severe haemorrhage or airway obstruction as a result of an explosion or gunshot wound. The training programme is prepared accordingly.

Due to the increasing number of terrorist attacks targeting civilians in urban areas in countries such as the USA and Canada, this training module is now also provided to civilians in order to prevent civilian casualties and increase the survival rate. Tactical tourniquets and hemostatic gauze pads used for this purpose are compulsorily available at first aid stations in crowded areas such as shopping centers and schools. Training duration; 4 HOURS.

TCCC-CLS (COMBAT LIVE SAVER) (TACTICAL CASUALTY CARE FOR ALL NON-MEDICAL SOLDIERS)

It is a compulsory training module developed for each soldier who will go to the battlefield and who is not a paramedic. In the training, soldiers are taught how to intervene in severe bleeding in the arms and legs, open chest wounds, and airway obstruction, which are the main causes of preventable deaths. For this purpose, soldiers are trained on how and in which situations to use the equipment in the Individual First Aid Kit that they carry with them. Training duration; 2 DAYS (2 x 8 HOURS = 16 HOURS)

TCCC-CMC (COMBAT MEDIC CORPSMAN) (TACTICAL CASUALTY CARE FOR COMBAT MEDIC CORPSMAN)

It is a training module provided to the soldiers who will serve as combat medics in the team in conflict zones. In this module, combat medics are trained on intravenous access, fluid resuscitation, and the use of some medicines. Training duration; 5 DAYS (5 X 8 HOURS = 40 HOURS)

TCCC-CPP (COMBAT PARAMEDIC / PROVIDER) (TACTICAL CASUALTY CARE FOR PARAMEDIC SOLDIERS)

It is the training module for soldiers who will serve as paramedics in the team in conflict zones. In this module, Paramedic soldiers are taught Trauma Advanced Life Support subjects including advanced airway management, surgical airway, chest tube applications, and drug use in the field of conflict. This course is given to staff with 2 years of First and Emergency Aid (Paramedic) training. Training duration; 3 DAYS = (3 x 8 HOURS = 24 HOURS)

TCC-LEFR (TACTICAL CASUALTY CARE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS)

It is a training program developed for Law Enforcement Forces, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Search and Rescue Personnel, and Other First Responders working in urban areas, especially for those who are likely to be exposed to terrorist attacks and who will work in regions (domestic or abroad) where health support is limited.

After 2013, according to the concept accepted and developed in the USA and published with the HARTFORD CONSENSUS; now, in explosive and firearm attacks occurring in urban areas, intervention to the casualties, as well as suppression and elimination of the threat, is a duty of law enforcement officers and it is a responsibility that must be carried out simultaneously with the suppression of the threat. Training duration; 8 HOURS.

TECC (TACTICAL EMERGENCY CASUALTY CARE) (TACTICAL CASUALTY CARE FOR CIVILIAN EMERGENCY PARAMEDICS)

It is a training module developed for emergency paramedics working in urban areas. In this module, Civilian Emergency Healthcare staff are trained on how to work in coordination with law enforcement officers in the event of an explosive or firearm attack in an urban area.

HARTFORD COSENSUS stipulates that civilian emergency paramedics should work in the warm zone under the control and coordination of law enforcement officers, when necessary. For this purpose; law enforcement officers and emergency health service providers should carry out theoretical and field studies/drills including the interventions and practices during the period from the intervention of the casualties at the place where they are, until they are transported to a trauma centre. Training duration; 3 Days = 3 X 8 HOURS.

STOP THE BLEEDING

To date, many lives have been saved in cases such as heart attack, drowning in water and electric shock by the intervention of civilians who have received basic first aid training. Research, statistics and experiences have shown that the first responders to an incident are the victims of the incident, those who are not injured or minimally injured, and those who witness the incident.

The most rapidly fatal but preventable cause of death in explosive or gunshot wounds is severe haemorrhage. In the case of a serious arterial haemorrhage, the victim can die within 3 minutes. It would be unrealistic to expect an ambulance or emergency paramedic to arrive at the scene in such a short time.

Many severe haemorrhages can be stopped simply by pressing directly on the wound. This could save valuable time until emergency paramedics arrive on the scene. The first tool that first aiders will use when responding to a severe haemorrhage will be their hands.

STOP THE BLEEDING training module is a basic training given to civilians and teaches them how to stop severe bleeding by first using their hands and then using tactical tourniquets and haemostatic bandages. Training Duration; 4 HOURS.

SPECIAL EDUCATION REQUIRED GROUPS

Due to their working circumstances, some occupational groups are at high risk of being exposed to explosive and firearm injuries. Those who practice these professions must receive tactical casualty care training in order to ensure the safety and protection of their own lives and the lives of their colleagues and the people under their responsibility. Some of these occupational groups are as follows;