Downed Officer Response & Medical Management (LEO)

2-Day | 16-Hour Course

Course Overview

This 16-hour course prepares law enforcement officers to respond effectively to a downed officer during the critical minutes before EMS arrival. Students are trained to rapidly assess threats, identify life-threatening injuries, and execute lifesaving interventions while managing scene hazards and coordinating evacuation.

The course goes beyond traditional “gunshot-only” thinking and addresses the full spectrum of real-world causes—including environmental exposure, vehicle incidents, hazardous materials, and medical emergencies. Officers learn how to balance tactical decision-making with medical intervention, ensuring they do not create additional casualties while attempting rescue.

Core instruction focuses on:

• Rapid approach and hazard assessment
• Lifesaving medical care using the M.A.R.C.H. framework
• Casualty movement and extraction under stress
• Patrol vehicle evacuation and transport decisions
• Communication and coordination with responding assets

Training is delivered through a blend of lecture, hands-on skill stations, and scenario-based exercises, culminating in full mission-profile scenarios.

Course Breakdown

Day 1 — Approach, Threats & Lifesaving Care

Focus: Decision-making + Immediate Medical Intervention

• Downed officer problem (beyond ballistic injuries)
• Threat vs. hazard recognition (traffic, fire, HazMat, environment, etc.)
• Tactical approach framework:
  • Threat
  • Hazard
  • Access
  • Cover
  • Resources
  • Patient priority
  • Evacuation route
• M.A.R.C.H. assessment:
  • Massive hemorrhage
  • Airway
  • Respirations
  • Circulation
  • Hypothermia / Head injury
• Hemorrhage control:
  • Tourniquets
  • Wound packing
  • Pressure dressings
• Chest trauma recognition & treatment
• Airway positioning & patient management
• Shock recognition & hypothermia prevention

?? Ends with integration scenario + debrief

Day 2 — Movement, Evacuation & Transport

Focus: Getting the officer out and keeping them alive

• Casualty movement techniques:
  • Single officer
  • Two officer
  • Team-based extraction
• Evacuation decision-making:
  • Stay and treat
  • Move to CCP
  • Rendezvous with EMS
  • Immediate transport
• Patrol vehicle casualty care:
  • Rear seat treatment
  • Driver priorities
  • Communication under movement
• Controlled vehicle evacuation drills
• Role-based scenarios:
  • Driver
  • Medic
  • Communicator
  • Scene security

?? Ends with full-scale culminating scenarios

• Threat + hazard + medical + evacuation combined
• Completion-based evaluation

Required Gear (Student Equipment)

Mandatory

• Tourniquet (CAT or equivalent)
• Wound packing gauze
• Chest seals (pair recommended)

Strongly Recommended

• Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK)
• Nitrile gloves
• Eye protection
• Duty belt / full kit setup (for realism)
• Radio (training or duty if applicable)
• Weather-appropriate clothing

Optional (Agency Dependent)

• Pressure dressings
• Hypothermia prevention gear (space blanket, etc.)
• Medical shears
• Marker for TQ time

Training Environment & Equipment

Students will train with:

• Patrol vehicles (static + controlled movement)
• Casualty mannequins & role players
• Medical training aids (bleeding simulators, chest seal trainers)
• Scenario props (traffic hazards, HazMat indicators, etc.)

Who This Course Is For

• Patrol officers
• SWAT / Tactical teams
• Fugitive / apprehension units
• School resource officers
• Supervisors and team leaders

Key Training Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Make sound approach decisions under pressure
• Identify and treat preventable causes of death
• Apply tourniquets, wound packing, and chest seals correctly
• Move and extract casualties safely
• Execute patrol vehicle evacuations
• Make real-world transport decisions
• Deliver clear, concise radio communication during crisis

Training Philosophy

This course is built around one core principle:

“Don’t create another casualty while trying to save one.”

Students are trained to slow down their decision-making process just enough to:

• Identify threats
• Control risk
• Then move aggressively when it matters