We take to the range prepared for an opportunity to exercise, grow and develop our skills and understanding of marksmanship, gun-handling and even sometimes steal away a chance to test our skill sets in contest with others, but we often do this against a background of unconscious incompetence of the dangers that can surface while we have a good time. Our new man “Lunchbox” takes a cold-hard look at how you can prepare for those “SHTF” moments…
We don’t know what we don’t know until it is often too late and a mishap occurs and the discharge of a firearm leads to injury. Are you prepared to manage a friend or family member with a gunshot wound? Are you prepared to provide self-aid? Do you carry the necessary medical skills and equipment to do such?
If you have not taken the time to prepare for the worse in a controlled environment, what makes you think you are prepared for that moment of truth on the street when violence erupts and you have only half prepared? Take a sobering moment, even two, and examine the need to marry your skill at arms with the equally important life-saving skills and understanding of practical first aid and the use of medical devices designed for gunshot wounds.
Never lose track that while firearms use constitutes a good time, it is also a serious one never to be lost track of. When the golden rules of the range are not enough to ensure safety your medical skills and supplies must be ready to take up the difference.
Here’s where to start:
1. Have a plan. Know where the nearest hospital and medical facilities are situated in relation to your range and be prepared to call for EMS services and render aid until they arrive. Make sure all members of your party know the range address so they all can call for help and assist.
2. Plan for the worst case scenario. If you are shooting at a location unaddressed, plan for such. Be ready to provide transport in the most dire of cases. Game out what is possible and think ahead.
3. Have at the ready all the supplies you might need to manage ballistic wounds. At a minimum, here is a starting list of supplies to have organized and at ready access each time you find yourself at the range:
a. Tourniquet(s)
b. Compression Bandages
c. Gauze for Wound Management
d. Needle to Treat Tension Pneumothorax
This story is from the June 2018 edition of Private Military Contractor International.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2018 edition of Private Military Contractor International.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
GEAR ON TEST
If you’re training, on the range, or indeed in need of a fine partner to carry all your EDC items, then sometimes a small pack can be the answer! We’ve been trying out the latest version of one of our favourite designs, and find that it still meets our needs as well as ever.
FIVE YEARS STRONG!
AT PMCI WE PREFER TO CONCENTRATE ON BRINGING YOU THE MOST INSIGHTFUL AND VALUABLE INFORMATION WE CAN IN EACH AND EVERY ISSUE, CONCENTRATING ON PRODUCTS AND PROVIDERS THAT WILL GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO TRAIN AND PLAN EFFECTIVELY RATHER THAN BLOWING OUR OWN TRUMPETS! HOWEVER, WE’VE JUST REACHED A MILESTONE THAT WE FEEL IT’S RIGHT TO SHOUT ABOUT, AS THE EDITORIAL TEAM HITS THE FIVE YEAR MARK! BILL AND TRAMPAS GIVE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THOSE FIVE YEARS, AND WHERE THEY’RE HEADING NEXT…
Spotting Danger With Gary Quesenberry
Over the course of the past twenty years, trampas has worked in and around law enforcement on the local, state, and federal levels through various task forces before transitioning to the firearms and training industries. His travels have led him around the usa to meet some amazing people and learn many valuable lifesaving skills. Of these skills, one of the most important to learn and pass along to family, friends and students is that of situational awareness. So important in fact, pmci decided to invite a special subject matter expert to join us and discuss his new book on the topic! - ts.
RUGER-57
Late December of 2019, Ruger Firearms threw the gun industry for a loop by announcing a new semi-auto pistol chambered in 5.7x28mm aptly named the Ruger-57. This nearly 30-year-old cartridge, commonly perceived to be pertinent only to a niche market, was suddenly, the main topic of conversation! -TS
KIT: TACTICAL FLEECES
Although they are nothing new, one of the most overlooked bits of kit in our “tactical wardrobe” is the fleece, but it’s actually one of the most versatile garments that you can own, both for training and for general use! As we head into the colder months of the year Bill takes a look at some of the models he’s been using and abusing and brings us the benefit of his years of use and technical garment knowledge!
MICROTECH SCARAB
In the knife community, there is perhaps nothing more captivating than the “SWWWICK” sound of an automatic knife. Whether it’s the classic linage of the stiletto switchblade from our favorite gangster movies or if it’s the mystique of being banned in several states, the automatic knife remains on the top of every blade fan’s “must have list”. -TS
ATTACKSENSE UPDATE – PEER TO PEER TRAINING
If you’re a regular reader of PMCI then you’ll know that some of the contributors, especially those in the UK where access to live fire training is limited, have been making good use of their “6mm” tools to keep their skills and drills up to date with the AttackSense Smart target System, and now it looks like things are getting even more interesting with live peer to peer “ranking data” available! -BT
CONSOLE VAULT
AS AN AVID PRACTITIONER OF LEGALLY CARRYING A CONCEALED FIREARM EVERY DAY AND TEACHING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME THROUGH THE TRAINING COURSES OUR COMPANY OFFERS, TRAMPAS IS CONSTANTLY AWARE OF AREAS IN WHICH HE CANNOT POSSESS A FIREARM, AND LOOKS TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR THOSE MOMENTS WHEN HE NEEDS TO SECURE HIS “TOOLS” WHEN MOBILE. - TS
CHANGING THE TRAINING DYNAMIC WITH THE REALISTIC TARGET COMPANY
Throughout my law enforcement career, the standard training for our department, as with many agencies across our state, consisted of a static range with a solid color (black, blue, or green) human silhouette known as a B-27 target. It was only during my regular training as part of the SWAT team away from the patrol, upper brass, and investigations personnel in which things were a bit more “dynamic”.
SKILLS & DRILLS
With our good friend and valued PMCI contributor Andy N fully back in the fold, he shares the experience he has gained both in the UK military and “on the circuit” as he continues with his usual wry take on the “Skills and Drills” that are invaluable to any shooter!!!
