A review of Canadian Forces Search and Rescue Technician medical training and operations, 1990-93

This study examined whether the 8 weeks of initial medical training and 9 d re-certification every 3 yr given to Canadian Forces (CF) Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR Techs) was satisfactory. The course content was compared with 272 held medical case documents for the period 1990-93, inclusive. This practical medical care data showed a predominance of trauma rescue cases: 35% were life threatening conditions and 65% were non-life threatening conditions. They ranged from trauma, chest pain, abdominal pain, hypothermia, diabetic insulin overdose to stroke and gynecological bleeding. Of the life-threatening cases, 32% needed advanced treatment skills and 15% of the non-life threatening cases needed advanced treatment skills. It was concluded that the content of the initial and re-certification medical training was satisfactory as long as immediate transport to a specialist medical center was possible.