After Action Report: MechMedic’s TC3 course

For a product review, I am reviewing Brushbeater training’s latest product.
The TCCC, or TC3, training course presented by StuckPigMedical.
A lot has changed in emergency medical treatment since I got out of the military nearly 6 years ago.
Sure, much is the same. Packing wounds tightly and properly, wrapping patients in emergency thermal blankets for transport, and how to properly use a tourniquet and compression wraps. Much of that is the same. But a lot has changed in a nuanced manor.
Assuring the patient that they aren’t gonna die and that their wounds aren’t nearly as bad as he thinks is still the standard.
For example, the theory of tourniquet application has changed standards. Which is considerable, and the reasons, as stated in the class, make A LOT of sense.
IV’s using saline solution bags are no longer believed to hydrate an injured patient; and Hextend is no longer used; Having been removed from military supplies; And now I know why. That product always made me uncomfortable. Especially when they made us specifically label them and always followed the CLS class with a WARNING that you needed a medic to supervise and sign off on the Hextend treatment.
There is a better… more uncomfortable way… to hydrate a patient. The kind of method that will motivate you to drink water before you are forced to “knird” water.
k.n.i .r.d.  is drinking water backwards…
To my surprise, even the use of a Nasopharyngeal Airway device has changed in theory. And the unit products, have evolved in design. They are superior to the ones I used to have on my kit. There is no comparison to the modern design and materials construction. The previous designs were flimsy, stored poorly on combat gear, and the lubricated versions were a magnet for dirt and disease in the field.
I will be attending the next local TCCC class hosted by MechMedic because I have A LOT of training scars from the lessons of early/middle of the GWOT that need to heal. So you will see me there. I missed some portions of his class for two reasons. I was trimming trees all week in the Maryland sun, and I was basically exhausted. And NC Scout grabbed my attention with the recent developments concerning the Chinese Airbase in Texas.
I will need to attend MANY of these classes to remove the training scars I have and get familiar with the new methods and means of treating a casualty. But the lessons I learned really stuck with me because of how profoundly reasonable and rational the treatments are.
Another great benefit of the class is the instructor; MechMedic Actual.
MechMedic, whom I had previously not met in person, is a great instructor. He has all the qualities you want in an instructor in a tactical learning environment.
He is knowledgable, entertaining and humorous, and he makes the lessons memorable with animation and conversation. He repeats himself, but, as all training requires repetition, his repetition is purposeful and sincere, to remind your brain to remember the important lessons. He is also a mechanic as well as a medic. Hence the name, MechMedic. And his solutions to fixing leaks are based on real world experience in many professional fields.
Vehicles run on the same principles as a person. They have airways, fuel, lubrication, cooling, electrical systems, and they can be move under their own power or need to be towed.
Kinda like a combat casualty in a tactical environment.
He also has all of the important gear for training aids and gives you lessons on what to look for when purchasing your medical equipment. Apparently there is A LOT of counterfeit medical equipment online. Equipment you should NOT cheap out on. Plus the proper gear comes packaged correctly. Which contributes to longevity when stored on your kit in the field. He also directs you towards a happy medium between what is useful for the average person (Specifically Guerrilla Care in a grid down scenario).
His course is also focused primarily on “Grid Down” solutions to emergency medical problems, Not just “Grid Up” answers.
There are lots of ways to gain knowledge on medical training. Manuals, Red Cross classes, local fire department training days, and online videos are available. But nothing can match a dedicated 2 days of block instruction. Especially when you can ask the instructor questions and engage with the material.
When you sign up for a brushbeater training course, the training goes beyond just medical, rifles, scouting, intel collection, or radios. You’ll learn more than just medical at the medical class. More than just radios at the radio class. And more than just firearms at the firearms classes. It’s also a good chance to test your camping gear, bring your combat rig along and ask for some pointers after class, and maybe even make some good friends and network (You will).
You will get to meet the members of the American Partisan and Brushbeater teams. And there are plenty of cigars, barbecue, libations, stories, and jokes to go around.
Thanks for reading,
Stay Dangerous, Stay Dedicated, Stay Determined.
-J.P.
I’ll see you at the next MechMedic TC3 Course.