The SMS Blood Course
The SMS Blood Course
The SMS Blood Course prepares military & EMS providers with the core science and practice of bleeding control, shock physiology and management, and prehospital blood resuscitation.
This course was written and created by the world’s leading experts in U.S. Special Operations Forces prehospital trauma care and prolonged field care medicine. You’ll learn how to provide timely and efficient resuscitative care to serious and critical casualties in challenging prehospital and field environments, as well as the comprehensive approach to acutely bleeding and shock patients with available tools, medicine, and resources on hand to deliver the best medical practices in the field.
Who Should Take this Course?
This course is designed for the prehospital medical first responder, from emergency medical technicians up to paramedic transport units, as well as military providers and system leaders seeking best practices.
Three separate modules based on your needs as a provider:
RDCR: Foundations – the core science and practice of bleeding control, shock physiology and prehospital blood resuscitation for all providers
Walking Blood Bank (in development) – an addition to the Foundations course for military and remote non-military providers and systems interested in emergency transfusions
Blood System Essentials (in development) – an addition for supervisors and administrative leaders describing best practices and logistics and administration for a blood program
What can you expect from the Course?
The Foundations course is a one-day, in-person medical training, complete with classroom learning, practical labs, medical skill proficiency and sustainment.
Students are required to review online pre-course lessons and complete a short quiz.
To receive the course completion certificate and continuing education credits, students must complete a final online test.
Course Structure
Before your course begins, you’ll be assigned a small amount of online pre-work. This work has an easy-to-follow format, and lessons consist of a mix of practical and theory. Participants have commented that this online learning provides a wealth of information prior to the in-person classes, which enhance your learning experience and level of preparedness.
During the in-person training, there will be a mix of lecture presentations, discussions, and engaging practical labs, reinforcing and improving your current skills and knowledge.
Course Content
Material covered during the course is an overall view of current bleeding control techniques, shock physiology, whole blood administration, logistics, considerations, and evidence-based knowledge. It is organized to bridge the gap between academic teaching and real-world application. Material covered includes:
- Bleeding control interventions (wound packing, tourniquet placement and bleeding control)
- Tourniquet conversion, replacement, and removal
- Shock considerations and management
- Administration of blood and whole blood products, as well as whole blood logistics and application history
Best Practices
During the course, participants will gain knowledge based on best practices in medical literature based on military and non-military standards, to include:
- US military Joint Trauma System Clinical Practice Guidelines (TCCC, DCR, PCC)
- Committee of Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) guidelines
- International Committee for Austere Emergency Care
- Current protocols and guidelines from local and national EMS organizations
- Best practices from leading national and international organizations
Quality Instructors
All course instructors have been through a rigorous certification process and are subject matter experts, with years of lived and relevant experience.They are both supportive and approachable, teaching the information in a digestible format.
Ready to Take a Course?
We are proud to partner with international training companies to deliver the best curriculum to participants. If your company is interested in hosting a training, or becoming a training partner, please contact us.
Want to join in on a course that’s already scheduled? Check out the calendar.
This was a great course! The content was well organized and offered multiple avenues for learning. I would recommend this course to any agency or individual who is integrating RDCR or out-of-hospital administration of blood products into their practice.
Aaron W.
Paramedic
“This course has the potential to make a significant difference in the outcome of trauma patients we see in our district as well as the agencies we serve. Our agency is in a prime location for eastern El Paso County and carrying blood only makes sense.”
Jon W.
EMS Division Chief Falcon Fire Protection District
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