Free Trauma Training

VetCT specialists have a wealth of expertise in treating and caring for animals in conflict and disaster zones. We offer the following training videos FREE of charge to veterinary professionals and students to help provide animal care and improve welfare in crisis situations. 

A voluntary donation to the Disaster Emergency Committee that co-ordinates humanitarian aid to crisis zones can be made at the viewer's discretion if they would like on our JustGiving page HERE

1. Field Triage

Learning outcomes:

• Learn to utilize SALT to perform field triage.
• Understand the concept of Hot Zone, Warm Zone and Cold Zone.
• Understand the importance of safe transport of victims.

Speaker: Dr Mara Hickey, DVM, DACVECC 

2. Hospital Triage

Learning outcomes:

• Understand how hospital triage progresses from field triage.
• Utilize triage scores to determine the order of patient care and identify increased risk of death.

Speaker: Dr Mara Hickey, DVM, DACVECC 

3. Major Body Systems Assessment

Learning outcomes:

• Understand how to evaluate the patient using Major Body Systems assessment.
• Identify abnormalities in the major body systems using pattern recognition and basic physical exam findings

Speaker: Dr Mara Hickey, DVM, DACVECC 

4. Immediate Stabilization of the Trauma Patient

Learning outcomes:

• Learn how to address abnormalities in both austere environments and resource-rich environments.

Speaker: Dr Mara Hickey, DVM, DACVECC 

5. Wound Care

Learning outcomes:

• Understand the basics of bandaging and wound care for stopping ongoing hemorrhage and preventing infection.
• Learn appropriate bandaging layers and identify ways to bandage in both an austere environment and a resource-rich environment.

Speaker: Dr Mara Hickey, DVM, DACVECC 

6. Hemorrhage and Combat Gauze

Learning outcomes:

• Understand what combat gauze is
• Know when and how to use combat gauze and tourniquets

Speaker: Dr Guillaume Hoareau, DVM, PhD, DACVECC, DECVECC

7. Field Expedient Blood Transfusion

Learning outcomes:

• Understand the various products available for trauma transfusion in resource-limited settings.
• Understand indications for blood product administration.
• Understand the technical aspects of blood collection and administration.

Speaker: Dr Erin Mays DVM, DACVECC 

8. Fluid resuscitation

Learning outcomes:

• Understand the basic fluid types that can be used during trauma triage and resuscitation.
• Understand the pros/risks and doses of commonly used resuscitation fluids including hypertonic saline and crystalloids.
• Understand basic indications for hemostatic resuscitation.

Speaker: Dr Rebecca Walton DVM, DACVECC

9. Trauma Diagnostics

Learning outcomes:

• Understand the basics of triage point of care diagnostics that include bed-side assessment.
• Understand interpretation of packed cell volume, total protein, glucose and lactate.
• Understand principles and techniques associated with FAST scan.

Speaker: Dr Rebecca Walton DVM, DACVECC 

10. Thoracic Trauma

Learning outcomes:

• Understand the most commonly encountered types of thoracic trauma.
• Understand basic thoracic trauma triage and management.

Speaker: Dr Rebecca Walton DVM, DACVECC 

11. Abdominal Trauma

Learning outcomes: 

• Understand the most commonly encountered types of abdominal trauma.
• Understand basic abdominal trauma triage, diagnostics and management.

Speaker: Dr Rebecca Walton DVM, DACVECC 

12. Pain Management 

Learning outcomes:

• Understand signs and injury mechanisms associated with various levels of pain.
• Understand drug choices for pain and appropriate application (for mild, moderate or severe pain).
• Understand adjunctive therapies which may assist in sedation or other injury-related needs.

Speaker: Dr Erin Mays DVM, DACVECC 

13. Acute Management of Burns

Learning outcomes:

• Review how to approach the burn victim and initiate care

Speaker: Dr Guillaume Hoareau, DVM, PhD, DACVECC, DECVECC

14. Traumatic Brain Injury  - COMING SOON!