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MODULE A: STREET AID BASICS
MODULE A: STREET AID BASICS
Welcome to the Street Aid Basics module. In this course, you’ll learn how to deliver essential frontline care during civic events, from assessing and stabilizing trauma victims to managing common injuries like eye irritations, sprains, and soft-tissue wounds.
You’ll also review information to recognize and respond to opioid overdoses and perform core first-aid techniques to keep patients comfortable. By the end of this module, you’ll be prepared to act confidently and compassionately in high-pressure environments, providing lifesaving assistance on the streets.'
Click on each graphic or YouTube video to launch the content for each section topic. In some third-party training courses, you may be taken to a different website.
All volunteers should strive to complete an in-person Stop the Bleed course as well as First Aid, CPR & AED for the Professional Rescuer training course whenever feasible from organizations like the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association when feasible.
PLEASE NOTE: THE OPINIONS, STATEMENTS, AND ORGANIZATIONS LINKED HERE ARE NOT ALWAYS ENDORSED BY THE SOCIETY OR MEMBERS. THE TRAINING MATERIALS PROVIDED HERE ARE DUE TO THEIR EDUCATIONAL CONTENT ONLY.
control the bleeding
control the bleeding
One of the most crucial skillsets, ensuring we provide good trauma medical lifesaving skillsets. While all Society members should strive to complete an in-person Stop the Bleed course, this video is a good basic introduction to control bleeding concepts. We will review bleeding control techniques in the Community Aid 101 courses, and encourage all members to carry at least an individual trauma kit at all times.
tactical emergency casualty care
tactical emergency casualty care
Rapid care for treatable injuries saves lives. The goal of treating these injuries is to “stop the clock” on all causes of preventable death—that is, taking action to stop the injury from being immediately fatal, and giving the injured the chance to be treated in a hospital.
The medical care described in this 45-minute module from FEMA is based on the guidelines published by the Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care. TECC is closely modeled on military medical guidelines, but it accounts for civilian population differences, resource differences, and scope of practice differences.
Emergency Patient Movement
Emergency Patient Movement
In an emergent, high-threat situation we may need to move a patient quickly and without concern for injury to the patient. This video looks at specific wilderness medicine lifting and moving techniques for a single rescuer and two rescuers. It additionally outlines safe patient lifting techniques, critical to understand when needing to move someone fast without injuring yourself!
Basic eye care
Basic eye care
One extremely common injury is exposure to crowd control agents, pepper spray, bear spray, or other materials that get airborne during a civic action event. All Aid Society members should know how to render this basic care and decontaminate someone exposed to these type of agents or other similar tools.
soft tissue & extremity Injuries
soft tissue & extremity Injuries
Using improvised and simple means, this quickly covers the basics of providing simple first aid for soft tissue and extremitiy injuries. Muscoskeletal injuries such as sprains and strains are common in events like marches, festivals, and other crowded events where movement is consistent. Being able to use simple gear and few resources quickly can provide a great help to those injured.
naxolone administration
naxolone administration
Naloxone is a life-saving drug that can reverse an opioid overdose. Once an overdose has been identified, administer one of these four common forms of naloxone by watching this video from the American Medical Association.
ONLINE first AID, CPR & AED TRAINING COURSE
ONLINE first AID, CPR & AED TRAINING COURSE
The NHCP provides this online, free, First Aid & CPR course as well as a Basic Life Support training course. They are not accredited by the American Heart Association (the primary BLS & ACLS credentialing organization) but follow the guidelines set forth.
This online training is required if you do not have a current CPR & First Aid certification. We strongly recommend taking an in-person First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer course from organizations like the American Red Cross or the AHA when feasible.
additional materials & references
additional materials & references
A Demonstrator’s Guide to Responding to Gunshot Wounds
Covers basic ballistic wound management for non-medical volunteers, from tourniquet use to improvised dressings, with an emphasis on “you are not your local trauma surgeon.”Protocols for Common Injuries from Police Weapons
Step-by-step care guidelines for rubber-bullet bruises, tear-gas burns, chemical irritants, concussion, and other demonstration-related injuriesMental Health First Aid
Highly recommended training, and one of the cornerstones for our Support Monitors, that all members should take if possible!
This is the handbook, created by Chicago Action Medical, is adopted by the Northern Aid Society as the primary handbook for our Medicaes! As Safety Medical volunteers, you should be familiar with the contents and brush up on the materials prior to every safety medical coverage event. It will be used during Medicae training courses. It covers most medical situations encountered during social and civic events, but is only basic medical information. Below are additional guides, resources, and articles that volunteers are strongly encouraged to review and explore. Seeking professional training, such as Wilderness First Responder or Emergency Medical Technician, can go a long ways as well!
Riot Medicine, the name not withstanding, is a full-length textbook that covers everything you need to become a street medic. The 486 pages include organizing, medicine, equipment, and tactics. It is written for those with no medical training and no experience at protests, but medical practitioners and seasoned protesters will still find it useful.
Other guides include a field guide, a basic aid card, and other helpful materials.
This article by the Melbourne Street Medic Collective provides a good collection of tips and techniques for providing medical care at social action and engagement events. Materials cover information about basic safety, situation management, organizational logistics and support.
The guide Streetwise & Steady: A Workbook for Action Peacekeepers or Event Marshals by Choose Democracy is a fantastic manual on safety techniques and strategies during mass civic engagement events. It covers the basics of crowd movement, de-escalation, and practical tools and principles for peacekeepers, rooted in the belief that nonviolent discipline is not just a tactic — it’s a strategy for resilience.
This article by Patrick Young provides a fantastic overview of the movement of street medicine and community medical aid in civic events. It covers concepts in mutual aid networks, the history, and thoughts around keeping the movements healthy and safe for the future.
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