Penn Tactical Solutions
Field Notes
From the Field. For the Field.
Field Notes is where Penn Tactical Solutions publishes operational insights, clinical updates, and perspective pieces from active practitioners across emergency medicine, law enforcement, fire, and tactical medicine.
This is not a marketing blog. Every piece published here is written by someone who has worked the scenario, managed the call, or trained for the situation. We publish what we learn so others can be better prepared.
Have something worth sharing? We accept contributor submissions from qualified practitioners. Selected contributors receive a $25 gift card or a Penn Tactical t-shirt of their choice.
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A satirical field guide to the twenty most common ways instructors fail their students, drawn from real cla...
Here's the full piece, ready to copy and paste: A walkthrough of what happens in a typical 90-minute class...
In December 2012, twenty children and six staff members were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newt...
The countdown Fifty days from today, the largest sporting event ever staged in this region will begin. FIFA...
Twenty-seven years after Columbine, the way we respond to active threats and the bleeding that follows has ...
Last night I went out with friends. The guy at the door checked IDs. That was it. No AED, no first aid kit,...
Police officers are often the first to arrive at critical incidents, where the first few minutes can determine survival. Patrol medical programs equip officers with th...
When a serious injury occurs at school, the first few minutes often determine the outcome. This guide explains how schools can strengthen emergency preparedness throug...
The first few minutes after a serious injury often determine survival. Learn the simple actions that save lives before EMS arrives and why bystanders are the true firs...
In 2026, massive crowds will fill stadiums, fan zones, transit hubs, and festival grounds across the country. Most people will never think about crowd safety until it ...
Understanding the difference between an IFAK and a trauma kit comes down to purpose, access, and training. This guide breaks down what to carry, how to prioritize gear...
When an EMS crew responds to what appears to be a routine call, the expectation is to treat illness, injury, or overdose. Increasingly, providers are also encountering...
Most people think of EMS as the ambulance that shows up when something goes wrong. What they don’t see is everything behind it: long shifts, provider burnout, funding ...
“Many victims in mass shootings die from chest injuries, not limb wounds. A simple chest seal can keep air out of the chest cavity and give victims a fighting chance u...
Needle decompression saves lives, but confirmation of success has long relied on subjective signs. Colorimetric capnography offers an objective, rapid way to confirm p...