TEMS Paramedic

[jh504]

So, I finished my paramedic course with a lot of encouragement from folks here on the board. I have another question now for anyone who has experience with this topic. Has anyone here been through the 200 hour Tactical Emergency Medical Specialist program? I have looked at several tactical medic programs over the past couple of years but I wanted to wait until after I had passed paramedic. The ones that I had looked at before were mostly in the 40-50 hour range. The TEMS course seems much more in depth and like a more rewarding course than the shorter courses offered. Anyone ever had experience with any of these? Military medics are welcomed to chime in as well.

[OneTime]

Maybe we can run another 23 page thread for 2010! Im getting ready to take a TEMS course in the spring. I have to switch to plan B since my state is about to go broke here in AZ. I can't lateral over to our state police and fly on the SAR helicopter as a medic as planned. Plan B is try and get on our SWAT team as a tatical medic. Right now my department uses a dedicated Fire engine company to stand by when we have a scene


There are a many options out west for TEMS courses. I few right here is AZ. There is a school called WarriorSchool in Tucson. I was contacted last week by my paramedic school director and approached about a new school that is opening up here, just outside of Phoenix. Apparantly they have a bunch of new DOD contracts that have been pulled away from Blackwater.

I dont know the name of the new school but they are entering into a contract with the junior college I attended so that guys can use there GI bill funds to pay for classes.

There is also a good school in Palm Springs CA. Ill try and post up the links to the schools. I also remember reading about a school somewhere is the South.

I know I gave you no info whatsoever. Just found it funning that we are heading down the same path again.

Edit: Here are some links

Palm Springs School: http://www.tacticalmedicine.com/

Tucson School http://www.warriorschool.com/

[jh504]

Haha, yeah our other thread has stayed alive for a while now. Thankfully we both stayed alive in the class as well! Sounds like you would have a pretty good opportunity there with your department since you are already a sworn officer and on the payroll. I have not been through BLET so it will be a little bit of a different ballgame for me. I plan on staying full-time with EMS and pursuing the other as a side gig.
There is a TEMS course offered in Greensboro, NC that I am looking at. Fortunately it is fee exempt for public safety personnel, like my medic course was, so it will only cost me ammo. It starts in May and last through the fall, one week a month.
I had looked at the Blackwater (US Training Center) course a while back, but it was pretty expensive. It wasnt realistic for me to spend that much on it without a definite placement opportunity, but with the course in Greensboro I dont have much to lose.

[OneTime]

Seems the trend now if to train EMS personnel in tactics and have them on a part time members of SWAT teams as opposed to training SWAT guys as medics. I guess its easier to learn to shoot then start lines. Most of the smaller agenicies here in AZ use a few guys from the FIRE depts and make the tactical medics. They train with PD swat and get called out on scenes.

I guess it makes since. I would rather a well trained medic come in an work on me than a cop/ medic that doesnt have much experience. (I know the irony. ) I am a cop that just trained as a medic. But my plan is to train and work as much as possible and not just "keep me cert up."

[Fish]

I guess its easier to learn to shoot then start lines.

Bigger target.

We have a pretty active tactical EMS program here in San Diego. Our guys are all firefighters who have been through the SWAT academy. Some double up as helo medics or on our rescue or wherever. They used to also fly out to cruise ships with the USCG, but they don't do that anymore. Not sure why.

[kellymoe]

I wish there was something like this offered when I was a paramedic in South Central Los Angeles. I had the honor or the misfortune to treat more than a few LAPD officers who had been shot or injured in the lone of duty. Officer involved shootings are chaotic incidents and emotionally charged at all levels. On the other end of the spectrum were the more frequent, much, much more frequent gang shootings that in the late 80's to late 90's were a daily occurrence, sometimes happening right in front of us or in front of the fire station. As crazy as it was i was young and crazy too and had a blast. I wouldnt want to do it now and am thankful for the slower assignment I have now