Dark Angel Medical Direct Action Response Training 7.28-29.2018

I spent my weekend attending the Dark Angel Medical DART class. Dark Angel Medical is a national medical gear and training company based in Colorado. The course description for DART is as follows:

• Physiological and Psychological reactions to environmental stress
• The importance of having the proper Combat Mindset
• Basic Anatomy and Physiology of life-sustaining systems
• H, A, B, C’s—Hemorrhage, Airway, Breathing and Circulation
• Breakdown and usage of Individual Med Kit components
• Proper stowage and employment of the IMK
• Hands-on application of the IMK
• Basic and Advanced Airway management -treating and monitoring tension pneumothorax, sucking chest wound and flail chest
• Airway adjunct device placement-Nasopharyngeal Airway
• Basic First Aid and Advanced wound care
• Application of Bandages and Hemostatic Agents
• Application of tourniquets
• Recognition and Treatment of various injuries (Gunshot, Laceration, Burn, Airway, Head, Orthopedic, Environmental)
• Recognition and treatment of hypovolemic (hemorrhagic) shock
• Moving and positioning victims with various injuries
• Response to active shooter situation
• Proper use of cover and cover vs. concealment
• Casualty recovery in an Active Shooter situation
• Mass casualty triage procedure

I had been wanting to train with them for a few years as I am a fan of their gear. The 2 day course did not disappoint. The instructor was a fellow Paramedic and although  the techniques were not anything I had never seen I did pick up some pointers. It was a good way to spend a weekend with responsible people trying to become better. I would recommend this course for lay people that want to learn some life saving interventions.