In 2018, the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) partnered with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the  Maryland-National Capital Region Emergency Response System (MDERS), and other regional first responder agencies to create and implement the Public Access Trauma Care (PATC) program. The PATC program provides bystanders with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to address life-threatening injuries before the arrival of medical professionals. This program serves Montgomery and Prince George's Counties by deploying trauma care kits in public spaces such as schools and government buildings. These kits are designed to assist victims suffering from critical injuries such as severe bleeding, penetrating trauma, or hypothermia, empowering bystanders to act during emergencies.

PATC Content:

• PATC Kit Overview
• Deployment and Maintenance
• Training and Other Resources
• The Good Samaritan Law​

PATC Kit Overview

Features

• Cabinets: Trauma kits are stored in sets of five inside a red bag, positioned within clearly marked cabinets for easy identification and access.
• Emergency Alarms: Opening a cabinet triggers an alarm to notify bystanders and prompt assistance.
• Strategic Placement: Kits are placed to allow quick access from multiple directions in a building, ensuring rapid deployment during an emergency.
• QuikLitter Patient Moving Device: Each red bag contains one QuikLitter to help move injured individuals when needed.

Contents of Each Vacuum-Sealed PATC Kit

• Combat-Application-Tourniquet (CAT): For controlling severe bleeding.
• Emergency Trauma Compression Dressing: To stabilize injuries and manage hemorrhaging.
• Compressed Gauze: For wound packing and additional bleeding control.
• Medical Gloves: To ensure the safety of those using the kits to handle injuries.
• Trauma Shears: For cutting clothing to access injuries quickly.
• Chest Seals: To treat penetrating chest wounds.
• Survival Blanket: To prevent hypothermia and maintain body heat.
• Permanent Marker: For recording medical information on victims or packaging.
• Mini Duct Tape Roll: To secure dressings or equipment.
• Just-in-Time Instructions: Simple guidance for bystanders on how to use the supplies effectively.

Deployment and Maintenance

• PATC kits are currently limited to Montgomery County Government, Montgomery County Public Schools, and Montgomery College facilities.
• We are not currently deploying these kits to other public areas, such as stores and parks, but continue to assess community needs.
• Montgomery County Government Departments can email OEMHS to request a PATC kit evaluation or kit replacement if:
  • Their facility does not have a kit and would like to request that OEMHS evaluate a site for potential placement.
  • An existing kit is missing, damaged, or has been used.

Training and Other Resources

To support the PATC program, the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and MDERS offer in-person training sessions, instructional videos, a mobile app, and other materials for all County employees and residents. By deploying trauma care kits across the community and providing easy-to-access training, the program ensures that residents of Montgomery County are prepared to act swiftly and effectively in emergencies, significantly increasing the chances of saving lives.

In-Person Training

Residents and MCG employees can request in-person Public Access Trauma Care (PATC) training, subject to resource availability. To request Public Access Trauma Care (PATC) training, Click Here. 

Training Videos

MDERS offers instructional videos  that teach bystanders how to administer life-saving care in the critical minutes before first responders arrive. There are several PATC training videos available on YouTube, each designed to offer essential insights and practical guidance. Below is an overview of the available videos and their content:

1. PATC Overview
   This video highlights the importance of PATC in the Maryland-National Capital Region by showcasing various scenarios where traumatic injuries can occur. It explains how PATC provides critical solutions in such emergencies.
2. PATC Introduction and Grilling Accident
   The first part of this video discusses the need for PATC in the community by exploring common locations and situations where trauma might happen. The second part introduces a simulated grilling accident, setting up the scenario for the following instructional videos.
3. PATC Providing Basic Trauma Care
   This instructional video demonstrates essential trauma care techniques using PATC kit equipment. It covers wound packing, applying compression bandages, using a tourniquet, applying a chest seal, and preventing shock in trauma situations.
4. PATC Trauma Care Conclusion
   This video concludes the grilling accident scenario, showing the complete treatment for each patient and the eventual arrival of EMS, tying together all the steps taught in earlier videos.

Specific Skill Demonstration Videos
These videos offer detailed, step-by-step guidance on using individual items from the PATC kit:

• Wound Packing
  Verbal and visual instructions on the proper technique for wound packing.
• Tourniquet Application
  Detailed instructions on how to correctly apply a tourniquet in an emergency situation.
• Preventing Shock
  Guidance on preventing shock in trauma patients, both verbal and visual.
• Compression Bandage
  A demonstration on how to correctly apply a compression bandage to manage bleeding.
• Chest Seal
  Instructions on the appropriate use of a chest seal for treating chest wounds.

Mobile App

MDERS offers a  mobile training application, t he PATC mobile app, which is available for both Apple and Android devices. The app provides users with easy access to step-by-step instructions, training resources, and other critical materials for trauma care.

Other Instructional Materials

PATC Poster
PATC Instructional Card