Bodyguard, Paramedic or Both? Experience and Exposure in the Protection Detail
As we see the rapid realisation by Executive Protection Agents & Bodyguards worldwide of the need to increase their medical qualifications, the prudent point of experience and exposure must be taken into account.
As previously demonstrated with the role of executive protection, it is one thing to have a certificate for a course, however, experience and exposure to the working environment proves invaluable.
The same cannot be truer for the medical capability of this role. With the evolution of EP/EMT qualifications, the need to have a method of ongoing exposure and gained experience in pre-hospital medicine is imperative. Medical knowledge, skills, and training are all perishable and easily lost if not routinely practised.
With the nature of this role, when your medical skills are required it will be under pressure and probably in very difficult circumstances. To then be standing in front of your client trying to recall the lessons of your course is unacceptable, not to mention dangerous.
Maintaining Skills
For instance, here at Panoptic Solutions our EP/Paramedics are able to maintain skills and qualifications by working with local EMS and ambulance services. Our EMTs conduct regular continuation training overseen by our Paramedics, as well as participate as first responders treating actual patients at the events covered by our medical wing – Panoptic First Response.
Maintenance of all skills surrounding executive protection operations is imperative to ensure a well-rounded protection service to the principal/client. Simply firing a pistol once a year doesn’t make you a marksman, conducting 3 days of defensive tactics doesn’t make you a bodyguard and conducting 1 week of EMT training doesn’t make you a medic.
These are all great starting points, however, it’s up to the individual to conduct professional development and up to the security provider or their company to ensure that appropriately trained personnel are tasked within the team.
