CQUniversity Unit Profile
PMSC20016 Direct Threat Care
Direct Threat Care
All details in this unit profile for PMSC20016 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit will introduce and familiarise you with the risks associated with conducting patient care in the direct threat environment. Wounding patterns such as blunt and penetrating trauma, blast injuries and ballistics will be discussed in depth. You will be introduced to the concepts of situational awareness and critical thinking as it applies to treatment priorities. Specialist equipment not available in mainstream pre-hospital medicine will be introduced to assist you with environment-specific treatment methodologies for major preventable causes of death. You will synthesise direct-threat related risks with treatment priorities to manage the tension between risk mitigation and favourable patient outcomes.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 8
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2021

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Case Study
Weighting: 30%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 50%
3. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 20%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Moodle

Feedback

No negative feedback was received for this unit formally nor informally. All comments on 'have your say' were positive and no recommendations for content improvement were made. Students appreciated the contemporary knowledge provided in this unit.

Recommendation

Content will continue to be updated to ensure that contemporary knowledge and information are being provided to students undertaking this unit of study.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Plan and prepare strategies for successful operation within the direct threat care environment
  2. Integrate clinical knowledge to identify clinical treatment priorities, risk and challenges in the direct threat care environment
  3. Articulate the concepts of risk analysis, team safety and operational control and deferment
  4. Evaluate the use of specialist equipment and emerging technology in the direct threat care environment.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20%
2 - Case Study - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20%
2 - Case Study - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Aldon Delport Unit Coordinator
a.delport@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 08 Mar 2021

Module/Topic

Introduction.

HX Tactical medicine.

Umbrella concepts.

Introduction to Damage control resuscitation and lethal diamond.

Introduction to MARCHE.

Introduction to PACE.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 15 Mar 2021

Module/Topic

Haemorrhage control.

HX of the tourniquets.

Tourniquet application.

Characteristics of haemostatic agents.

Classification and structural composition of haemostatics.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 22 Mar 2021

Module/Topic

Situational awareness.

Physiological stress response.

Grossman's colour codes of fear and stress response.

Cooper colour codes of awareness.

OODA loop, decision-making cycles, habit loops.

Tactical concepts.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 29 Mar 2021

Module/Topic

Situational response.

Management of physiological stress.

Training principles: Stress inoculation/graded stress immersion.

Communication.

Patient movement options.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 05 Apr 2021

Module/Topic

Haematology.

Basic Haematology.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Team Briefing. Due: Week 5 Monday (5 Apr 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Vacation Week Begin Date: 12 Apr 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 19 Apr 2021

Module/Topic

Community response programs.

The Hartford Consensus.

Warm zone care.

C-TECC/TCCC guidelines review.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 26 Apr 2021

Module/Topic

Less lethal weapon injuries.

Methods of deployment.

Chemical munitions.

Electrical conductive weapons.

Impact weapons.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 03 May 2021

Module/Topic

Wounding patterns 1.

Kinematics of trauma.

Mechanism of Injury.

Edged weapons low-velocity weapons.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 10 May 2021

Module/Topic

Wounding patterns 2.

Ballistics.

Mechanism of propulsion.

Projectile speed classification.

Physics.

BABT (Behind Armour Blunt Trauma).

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

SWOT Analysis. Due: Week 9 Monday (10 May 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 10 Begin Date: 17 May 2021

Module/Topic

Wounding patterns 3.

Blast injury mechanism.

Pathophysiology of blast injuries.

Explosive devices and deployment.

Improvised explosive devices.

Explosively formed projectiles.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 24 May 2021

Module/Topic

Contemporary attack and response models.

Attack modalities.

Response paradigms.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz. Due: Week 11 Monday (24 May 2021) 7:00 am AEST
Week 12 Begin Date: 31 May 2021

Module/Topic

Review.

Review C-TECC DTC.

Review evidence of wounding patterns in civilian high threat incidents vs military wounding patterns.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 07 Jun 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 14 Jun 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Case Study

Assessment Title
Team Briefing.

Task Description

In this assessment, you will be given a briefing based on a recent terror attack. You will create a team briefing based on the known modality of the attack. Use a briefing model that addresses the following points.

  • Detailed background and description of the incident.
  • What your specific tasks will be in your capacity as a tactical medic while the attack is in progress.
  • A detailed description of how the task will be executed.
  • What you will need to perform your tasks and how you will mitigate the risks posed to yourself and your team members.
  • How will you facilitate communication on the macro and micro level?

You are required to consider the specifics of the terror attack to inform your team briefing. Each point within your briefing must be substantiated by the critical elements specific to the case briefing and you must discuss your rationale for each briefing point you present. It should be presented in an essay format.


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Monday (5 Apr 2021) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 7 Monday (26 Apr 2021)


Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

There is a minimum word count of 1500 words with a maximum 10% deviation, excluding references for this assessment. Your case study briefing must be clear and concise. The case study briefing will be assessed in accordance with the information and rubric provided on the unit's Moodle page.

This case study briefing is worth 30% of your overall unit mark.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Plan and prepare strategies for successful operation within the direct threat care environment
  • Articulate the concepts of risk analysis, team safety and operational control and deferment


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
SWOT Analysis.

Task Description

In this assessment, you will consider the Australian posture related to the survivability of victims of a mass casualty event and using a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis, present your findings in the form of an essay. You may choose to limit your discussion to a single Australian organisation such as a state fire service, state ambulance service or a state police service. You may also discuss any broader federal or citizen initiatives.

Your essay must include the following information:

  • Description of the service, organisation or campaign.
  • SWOT analysis of the service, organisation or campaign.
  • How the service, organisation or campaign are addressing treatment for the preventable causes of death.
  • Recommendations to address the needs or gaps identified within the service, organisation or campaign.


Assessment Due Date

Week 9 Monday (10 May 2021) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 12 Monday (31 May 2021)


Weighting
50%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

The essay will be assessed in accordance with the rubric and information provided on the unit's Moodle page. There is a minimum word count of 2000 words with a maximum 10% deviation excluding references for this assessment. The essay must be presented in a clear and concise format with appropriate headings and sub-headings where required.

This presentation is worth 50% of your overall unit mark.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Integrate clinical knowledge to identify clinical treatment priorities, risk and challenges in the direct threat care environment
  • Articulate the concepts of risk analysis, team safety and operational control and deferment
  • Evaluate the use of specialist equipment and emerging technology in the direct threat care environment.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

3 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Quiz.

Task Description

You will complete an online quiz. Your quiz will consist of multiple-choice questions exploring the unit's content such as lecture materials, required readings, podcasts and links. Multiple choice questions will be based upon information provided in this unit from weeks 1 – 12.

You will be required to complete this online quiz by the end of Week 12, this quiz will become available in Week 11 and will have a specific time limit imposed to complete the quiz.

The quiz will test your ability to identify the concepts and theoretical underpinnings related to wounding profiles, situational awareness, situational response, planning, communicating, managing the effects of physiological stress and the foundational concepts of tactical medicine. You will be required to contextualise the information in the learning materials specific to the direct threat care environment to answer the questions.


Number of Quizzes


Frequency of Quizzes


Assessment Due Date

Week 11 Monday (24 May 2021) 7:00 am AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 12 Monday (31 May 2021)


Weighting
20%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

The quiz is worth 20% of the overall mark for this unit. Marks are awarded if the multiple-choice question is answered correctly and the total marks will be tallied once the quiz has been attempted.

The quiz is open-book, so the use of C-TECC and CoTCCC guidelines as well as related book chapters and journal articles are allowed. Please take note that this is an individual assessment with no collaboration allowed.

There is an automated time limit to complete the quiz.

There will be no opportunity to complete the task after the due date. There will be no opportunity to apply a late penalty of five percent per day.

Non-attempts will score a zero mark. Once complete, the quiz may not be re-attempted.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Plan and prepare strategies for successful operation within the direct threat care environment
  • Integrate clinical knowledge to identify clinical treatment priorities, risk and challenges in the direct threat care environment
  • Evaluate the use of specialist equipment and emerging technology in the direct threat care environment.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?