“With the ever increasing likelihood that front line security officers end up first on the scene at horrific incidents, there is a clear and growing need for advanced, life saving trauma care. TPSO asked internationally respected expert, Simon Rogers of Turret Training, to give us his view…….”
When I started working in the Police in 1989 the thought of suicide body born improvised explosive devices or marauding terrorist attacks killing stabbing driving cars at innocent members of the public was unheard of in the UK. Planning tactics to interdict and prevent such events is now the norm. Twenty-five credible threats have been foiled by the security services in the past 3 years. New innovative systems have been developed such as Citizen Aid , a simple but extremely effective app on mobile devices (Thurgood et al) where I act as an Ambassador.
The onset of Martyn’s Law (Manchester bombing casualty) is now supported by the UK government Security minister Brandon Lewis ……“The prime minister, home secretary and I are all 100% behind Figen and are working to improve security measures at public venues and spaces”.This is being made into legislation.
Matt Maer, director of security at Canary Wharf Group, said : “ This legislation has the potential to make a significant impact on public security , improving the situation for people as they go about their daily lives “ ( Alistair Bunkall Sky Security correspondent 24/2/20 )
Which led me to question how effective are the medical interventions and training on the market today?
The D13 training Curriculum (Thurgood Hall et al) forms 24 hours of contextualized learning. There are two elements to this package. D13.1 Standard and D13.2 Enhanced roles. The training curriculum offers the very highest standards of immediate lifesaving trauma care and teaches the medic to operate in suboptimal conditions with real capability and intent with minimal kit. It simplifies what is a complex process into simple and effective lifesaving interventions. It covers such areas as Catastrophic Haemorrhage control, Airway management interventions with adjuncts and concurrent Oxygen therapy. Added to this, a thorough systematic primary survey that is advanced in approach and lifesaving in conclusion. Following the Breathing assessments allied to use of innovative chest seals and advanced splinting techniques the trained medic will assist in stabilizing the casualty within the first 10 minutes often referred to as the “Platinum 10 minutes.
There are several training courses out there like the FREC (First Response Emergency Care) pathway. This covers 5 days and details emergency aspects but is broadly medicine based.
So what course is more suitable for the medic to deliver simple, robust, lifesaving interventions contextualized in situations like Westminster Bridge/ Borough Market or 7/7? Or even a member of the public badly assaulted? Is there a strong and robust Clinical Governance (CG) to clinically govern the taught medical interventions and support the medic/security officer? How able and capable is the CG to withstand any civil litigation? Do Security Companies have such governance or even Advanced/Specialist medics? How would the Company refute or mitigate any lawsuits and thus avoid reputational damage?
Members of staff and/or members of the public do some extraordinarily abnormal things in the deadliest of situations….…. Why? Who taught them to do that? Who told them not too? All the instincts of survival come to the fore, yet some people still go above and beyond the norm to help and give first aid to the injured. A total stranger cradling another lying on the pavement on Westminster Bridge.
How do the risk assessments conducted by the Security company direct what type of medical training it should have for its staff? What does the Strategic Threat and Risk Assessment or STRA state about the Security company’s position? How effective will the Security staff be as medics under these conditions? Does the medical training reflect what the Security officer is likely to face?
Managing the expectations of the business organization where stewarding, badged under SIA, has come to the fore now. There is more of a “push” for Corporate social responsibility. How does the medical training programme assist in mitigating reputational damage? A tiered medical response to such traumatic events from a security organisation is extremely effective, which the UK Police service and general public has clearly benefited from.
I have administered Medical interventions in hostile suboptimal conditions for over two decades. Many times, there was no immediate medical support or where the medical support was not allowed to operate. And it felt like a lifetime passed you by! Where medical support cannot respond or cannot reach you, often referred to as the therapeutic vacuum, the D13 programme teaches you to recognize time critical injury’s quickly and secure the casualty within the “platinum” 10 minutes. And then make simple but effective lifesaving decisions. The D13 training programme is contextualized with the medical skills that are ‘scenario specific’ and ‘attack specific’ underpinned and trained with experience. It has been tried and tested in the field and withstood the considerable scrutiny of civil, coroners and criminal courts alike. It is both Lawfully, Tactically and Medically sound.
“What else can you do. We had to protect our guests. I stayed and it was the right thing to do. It wasn’t a question of bravery…”
Hemant Oberoi Head chef The Taj Hotel Mumbai following the aftermath of a marauding terrorist attack.
Whether you’re a chef in a kitchen, FAW medic, SIA Steward or Internationally renowned company the D13 Medical training curriculum can deliver great benefits and develop organizations and staff accordingly. Whether there be a marauding terrorist attack, serious assault, roadside collision or serious injuries that effect our family and friends, the D13 programme provides an extremely effective and potent response to medical trauma emergencies. And once trained, the Security officer will be more capable, more potent and more credible. It will allow the Security officer the support and professional competence to deliver interventions that are backed up by extensive research and experience. This will then provide the security firm greater opportunities to safeguard the clients and company’s it has been hired to protect.
The Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care supports the National College of Policing in the D13 training programme. Therefore, it enjoys statistical data extrapolated from several sources. We see numerous incidents where specialist firearms officers dealt with a large range of medical emergencies (Medical training Police officers Specialist role: a retrospective review Mssrs Hartley Howells Thurgood 2010-15)
“Some extremely challenging incidents were dealt with and examples of excellent care predominate. In particular three terror incidents and multiple casualty calls were attended; exceptional examples of triage and decision making, with prompt effective care in high pressure environments, were illustrated” ( FPHC Feb 2019 )
This data was secured through prudent incident recording. This defined more specific patient demographics and ultimately helped develop a more robust clinical governance to manage the scrutiny of independent investigations. Such data enhances the training programme as well!
Effective recording of medical incidents and cogent risk assessments that reflect the incidents or potential incidents that staff will be facing is critical to looking for the right medical course. If the incidents are more medicine based, then there are plenty of courses available. If the incidents are more trauma based, then the D13 curriculum is relevant. But how do you know? The evidence directs the training!
And this training programme is supported, endorsed and certificated by the very eminent Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Supported by a professional medical institute for a professional security institute!
So, with so many questions raised I decided to set up my own specialist medical training company that offers this bespoke level of training. I managed to recruit some very experienced professionals to help deliver the training with great provenance, integrity and backed up with years of experience. I’m extremely proud of obtaining the direct support of Dr J HALL M.B.E who sits as the Hon Sec to the Chair of the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. I achieved endorsement from the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care, and I can provide certificated courses for individuals or security companies interested in this field of medical training.
At the same time, I developed courses on Crisis management and received approval from the UK College of Policing which allows me to use the National Decision-Making model together with some specific modules.
It’s taken me 16 months to build this business and my goal is simple. To pass on this experience to enhance and develop the security officer. To level up the professional standing of security personnel and company’s alike and ultimately save and protect lives and protect companies from malicious civil litigation.
I’d like to finish with the quote and dedication given by Mr Andrew Thurgood who developed the D13 curriculum as below…
All police officers dedicated to deploying these skills and knowledge in extraordinarily challenging circumstances ( Thurgood et al )
Simon Rogers
Simon has recently retired from the Metropolitan Police after 30 distinguished years service. A highly qualified firearms specialist attaining competencies which include: National Firearms Instructor, National Tactical Firearms advisor, Rifle Sniper, Specialist Weapons Control and Retention Trainer / SPEAR PDR Lvl 2 Instructor, he has worked in both Canada and the U.S. on behalf of the UK Police.
Simon is also trained and qualified in a multitude of advanced specialist medical skills including D13 Casualty Care for Police Officers, and he became an Advanced Provider of the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care RCSEd having passed numerous medical courses. He attended and passed the U.K. Special Forces Patrol Medics re-accreditation course at Hereford and further courses such as: FPOSi, PHTC, CeeR, MIRA, FREC 3, FREC 4 Cadaver IO training and Penthrox.
Simon is now owner of the outstanding Turett Medical Training, an enthusiastic and engaged member of the Security Institute and a friend of The Professional Security Officer magazine.
Contact Simon on: 07976 904534 or visit: turretmedtraining.com
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TPSO would like to convey our sincere condolences to Simon at the recent loss of his Father to Covid-19. Harold Rogers was admitted to hospital on his 90th Birthday. He survived WW2 serving with the RAF, but died April 5th from this virus. “A gentleman and a brilliant Engineer, who cared for my Mother right till the end…. S.R.” R.I.P. Harold.
