Recommendations for Good Medical Training Courses in Southern California?

[Combat wombat 1775]

Hey everyone!

I'm looking for recommendations for reputable medical training courses in Southern California, preferably around San Diego, Temecula, Fallbrook, etc. I am willing to drive if the training is worth it.

I understand that firearms training, shooting proficiency, and self-defense are extremely important, but I feel like medical training is something that doesn't get talked about nearly enough. Knowing how to defend yourself is one thing, but knowing how to potentially save someone's life in an emergency is just as important, if not more.

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who have actually attended these courses and can share their personal experiences.

A few things I'd like to know:

• What company or training center did you use?
• What type of medical training did you take?
• How much did the course cost?
• How long was the training (hours or days)?
• Did you receive a certification upon completion?
• Would you recommend the course to someone else?

I'm particularly interested in trauma care, Stop the Bleed, and other emergency medical training that could be useful in real-world situations.

I'm looking for something that provides quality, hands-on instruction rather than just a certificate. I don't mind paying more if the training is genuinely worth it.

Any recommendations or experiences, good or bad, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[bryanwm18]

Stop the Bleed is a basic training you can do. They offer an online version, but I did an in person one at the Palomar hospital in Escondido. Registration was free and the class was a good very basic introduction. It's not in depth or anything, but maybe a good starting point, even if just doing the online version.

 

[lactoast]

There used to be more offerings of Stop The Bleed classes in more places, sadly they seem to have stopped. The one I have in mind was held at Fullerton with CRPA, I don’t see those anymore.

Outside of STB you could check with your local community colleges about their first aid and trauma care trainings. Some might be more targeted towards people becoming EMTs, but it’s worth looking into.

LA County has Community Emergency Response Team trainings, but I don’t have any experience with that program. Maybe San Diego County has something similar?

 

[boltstop]

The Red Cross.

 

[sonofeugene]

Yes. Start with the Red Cross. They offer good classes at very reasonable costs.

 

[sonofeugene]

FYI, Red Cross classes are what I and two of my brothers took when we became involved with the National Motorcycle Patrol doing first response at race tracks in northern California. One of my brothers got his paramedic certification through the Red Cross as well.

 

[Gawernator]

I mean other than joining the Marines/Navy down there there’s Red Cross classes and stop the bleed is free somehow

 

[Combat wombat 1775]

I mean other than joining the Marines/Navy down there there’s Red Cross classes and stop the bleed is free somehow

Oh yeah I agree. I was in the Marine Corps for 10 years but I've been out for a few years and I the last time I did the Combat Life Saver course was a very long time ago. I just need a refresher since it's been so long. I do plan on checking out the Red Cross since that's something that everyone has been recommending. I appreciate the output from everyone.

 

[Gawernator]

Oh yeah I agree. I was in the Marine Corps for 10 years but I've been out for a few years and I the last time I did the Combat Life Saver course was a very long time ago. I just need a refresher since it's been so long. I do plan on checking out the Red Cross since that's something that everyone has been recommending. I appreciate the output from everyone.

What makes the grass grow

 

[Combat wombat 1775]

BLOOD! The Marine Corps' answer to every agricultural question. Anyone who says photosynthesis is lame.

 

[defcon]

fwiw AHA is generally preferred over Red Cross for medical providers for things like CPR certification - both will give you first aid training but don't offer trauma care because that's generally considered beyond scope for community education. A stop-the-bleed training will go over basic tourniquet application and wound-packing practices but are often taught by people with limited real world trauma care or specific knowledge on best practices on things like tourniquet use (see CoTCCC). CERT has a first aid component but is also at the community-care level and you wont learn anything trauma-specific. If you certify with SD CERT ("academy" takes about 2 mo. nights/weekends, free) they give you access to/require you to do a bunch of trainings by the fire department which has lots of medics with tons of trauma/emergency experience and knowledge. (e.g. stop the bleed, cpr, knots, etc.)

Would recommend AHA CPR and first aid class as refreshers (~4hrs, ~$30?) then looking elsewhere for trauma care. Both wilderness and combat-oriented tac/med type classes would be the place to go. Look at WFA (16 hrs, ~$300)/WFR (80 hrs ~$1000) classes by NOLS for wilderness med, and a TECC class (essentially the civilian version of combat lifesaver, 16hrs, ~$500) for tacmed. a stop the bleed class taught by a good medic will be super useful, but NOLS and TECC will give you more info on the same subject, likely taught by someone with more experience/knowledge. both these options are more trauma focused than becoming an EMT in CA (5-16 weeks, $1000-3000). NOLS also has a full on wilderness EMT class (1mo ft, ~$5000 in Lander, WY) that I've heard was very good.

 

[Gawernator]

fwiw AHA is generally preferred over Red Cross for medical providers for things like CPR certification - both will give you first aid training but don't offer trauma care because that's generally considered beyond scope for community education. A stop-the-bleed training will go over basic tourniquet application and wound-packing practices but are often taught by people with limited real world trauma care or specific knowledge on best practices on things like tourniquet use (see CoTCCC). CERT has a first aid component but is also at the community-care level and you wont learn anything trauma-specific. If you certify with SD CERT ("academy" takes about 2 mo. nights/weekends, free) they give you access to/require you to do a bunch of trainings by the fire department which has lots of medics with tons of trauma/emergency experience and knowledge. (e.g. stop the bleed, cpr, knots, etc.)

Would recommend AHA CPR and first aid class as refreshers (~4hrs, ~$30?) then looking elsewhere for trauma care. Both wilderness and combat-oriented tac/med type classes would be the place to go. Look at WFA (16 hrs, ~$300)/WFR (80 hrs ~$1000) classes by NOLS for wilderness med, and a TECC class (essentially the civilian version of combat lifesaver, 16hrs, ~$500) for tacmed. a stop the bleed class taught by a good medic will be super useful, but NOLS and TECC will give you more info on the same subject, likely taught by someone with more experience/knowledge. both these options are more trauma focused than becoming an EMT in CA (5-16 weeks, $1000-3000). NOLS also has a full on wilderness EMT class (1mo ft, ~$5000 in Lander, WY) that I've heard was very good.

$30? I have to have first aid CPR to be a state CMSP instructor and I think it was closer to $100 for the course

 

[defcon]

$30? I have to have first aid CPR to be a state CMSP instructor and I think it was closer to $100 for the course

yeahh that's the price im least sure about since I haven't had to pay it in a while. there are many certified providers so it's sometimes a matter of shopping around if you're trying to save money. i also might be remembering the renewal price and not initial. edit: forgot to add that $100 sounds well within reason.