The Modern Medic

Limb entrapment in machinery, such as food processors, manufacturing equipment or construction appliances, is a serious mechanism of injury that can cause severe injuries, i.e. loss of a limb, or in some cases, potentially fatal. First responders must know how to respond to these incidents to minimise harm and save life and limb.

In this episode of The Modern Medic I discuss what accessories and tools I carry when working a shift as an Intensive Care Paramedic.

In this episode of The Modern Medic, we chat with Matt Pepper:

Matt served 7 years in the Australian Army, working across a number of combat corps roles and graduating from the Royal Military

College, Duntroon and the Australian Defence Force Academy as an Army Officer.  

In 2006 he moved across to emergency services, where he has worked across multiple Australian ambulance services as a Special Operations/Intensive Care Paramedic and Special Operations Team/Rescue Instructor. He jointly established the Tactical Medical Operations capability in New South Wales Ambulance and was integral in the raising of the first full-time Tactical Paramedic Team in Australia, before moving on to become the service's inaugural Clinical Training Officer for Tactical Medicine.

Other notable career highlights include:

• Founding President of the Australian Tactical Medical Association
• Editorial Board, Journal of High Threat and Austere Medicine
• Master of Philosophy, Prehospital response to terrorism
• Graduate Diploma, Disaster response and preparedness
• Bachelor of Health Science, Paramedicine
• Bachelor of Arts, History
• Churchill Fellowship, 2015, International Models and Innovation in Tactical Emergency Medical Support
• NSW Health Clinical Excellence Commission Scholarship for Patient Safety, 2018, Clinical Governance and Interagency Collaboration in Tactical Medical Operations
• Qualified SWAT Medic (International School of Tactical Medicine), and Certified Tactical Paramedic (TP-C, International Board of Specialty Certifications)

Matt joined TacMed Australia as National Training Manager in January 2020.

In this episode of The Modern Medic, Jez discusses 5 of the common mistakes we see in the treatment of life-threatening bleeding. 

The MARCH Primary Survey is a great algorithm for medics to use when treating and assessing trauma patients.

Whilst originally developed for use on the battlefield, MARCH is just as relevant for first responders in a civilian environment.

Jeremy chats with Tim Makrides, Critical Care Paramedic, former Army Medic and secretary of the Australian Tactical Medical Association about Ketamine and its use in the pre-hospital setting.