Identifying the Need for First Responder Training for CONUS Deployed National Guardsmen

Researcher: Anthony Bevers

The purpose of this study is to explore the need for specialized first responder type training for the National Guard. Currently, there are gaps in specialized first aid training for the National Guard's secondary mission of Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA). The Army's Combat Life Saver (CLS) course is not adequate to fulfill the special circumstances the DSCA mission. This mixed methods study seeks to increase the capability of the National Guard’s response to disasters and individual aid in the community in times of need.

Questions the study will seek: Is there a need for the training? 

Review of existing related literature will be completed. A review of the number of incidents where non-medical Service Members responded will be conducted. Interviews with non-medical Soldiers and Airmen will be conducted.

 Is the training effective and relevant? 

The author has already compiled the curriculum of the CLS Supplement (CLS2) course and will seek the efficacy of relevance of the curriculum with testing on small groups of Soldiers.

 End State 

Service Members who attend the two day course will be more confident and competent to address the unique aspects of the CONUS prehospital disaster environment. The results of this study will be submitted to the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG) for review and implementation as standard training for the TXARNG.

Future Cooperation

At this time, I am not collaborating with another researcher, but I would be happy to take on interested parties to co-author the study.

Perceptions of Military Medical Disaster Response

Researcher: Dawn Higgins

Disaster Response Preparedness, to be effective, needs to become as close to second nature as possible.  Without regular and repetitive practice, contingency plans will be rendered ineffective.  “Doing what we do every day” is not disaster response; each situation is different, but the objectives are the same.  The military population receives specific training and bears the experiences of war‐time medical response and mass casualty incidents; particularly in settings where response capabilities are self‐reliant, thus largely fixed and known.  However, the coordination stateside with large public and private civilian organizations is not often fully incorporated in this training; though in reality, these organizations would fulfill significant roles in any military stateside disaster response.  This study attempts to identify barriers in attitudes and buy‐in with regards to motivation and participation in medical disaster preparedness at a military Level 1 trauma center emergency department.  Results of this study will be used in future training programs to enhance participation and improve training efficacy of military medical personnel for better disaster response.