Swat medic dentist

[AUtiger5]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

The dentist of a friend of mine serves as the medic on the SWAT team of a suburb of a major metropolitan city (he is ALS certified). He had to go through weapons training and the whole nine. This is an interest of mine, and am wondering if any other dentists or students have any knowledge of how to get a foot in the door or can shed any light on the subject. Thanks in advance and War Eagle, ya'll!

 

[armorshell]

Sounds like you should ask your friend to put you in touch with his dentist. Here's another dentist (OMFS albeit) who's a SWAT medic:
http://www.hscj.ufl.edu/surgery/oral-maxillofacial/bio.asp?id=1294

 

[AUtiger5]

Armor, that is a novel idea. I have thought of that but the one half day I have off to go to his office for a meet-n-greet, is the day he travels...in the meantime, I hoped someone here would have some insider info. Thanks.

 

[yappy]

Hmm... A dentist as a swat medic? Did they have exp prior to doing this? It is hard to believe you can pick the skills to manage a patient with gun shot wounds/trauma with an ACLS class.

 

[AUtiger5]

Hard to believe, I grant you that. Like the gentleman Armor linked to, he is an OMFS; but only has a D.M.D. degree. He got into it after talking to a Police Captain patient of his.

I stopped a police officer here in Birmingham at lunch who happened to be a SWAT member; he told me one would have to go to the police academy after dental school. However, my friend's dentist didn't do that. I am short on much other detail besides that.

Hopefully, I will be able to talk to the man next month. If anyone else is interested, I will report back.

 

[drhobie7]

Hmm... A dentist as a swat medic? Did they have exp prior to doing this? It is hard to believe you can pick the skills to manage a patient with gun shot wounds/trauma with an ACLS class.

After having re-certified in ACLS this past weekend I concur, it does not teach you diddly squat about trauma. I can, however, capture a bradycardia. oooooohhhh!

 

[aphistis]

Hmm... A dentist as a swat medic? Did they have exp prior to doing this? It is hard to believe you can pick the skills to manage a patient with gun shot wounds/trauma with an ACLS class.

Correct, ACLS does not cover traumatic injury in any meaningful fashion. ATLS is the certification you'd want to have in that setting.

 

[da8s0859q]

Excuse me, but I got lost on my way to allopathic and came across this thread.

I'm just curious as to the rationale of a PD bringing a DDS/DMD on board to be a medical director working with SWAT. I'm aware that EM docs do this and am interested in it myself, but I've never heard of dentists getting in on that.

Legitimate question. Not trying to bait anyone.

 

[AUtiger5]

No offense taken, exi. I still have not had a chance to speak to the Doc about everything yet. Also, I do not know which certification he has in regards to ACLS/ATLS. When I stated ALS earlier, it was explained to me that he has advanced life support training. The only solid facts I know are that he is a DMD who is an oral surgeon and was treating a police captain a few years back who brought him on board. Thanks for the input from everyone!