Fortune Favors the Prepared — Medical Series — MED-02
Know Your Patient
Medical History as a Preparedness Skill — SAMPLE & OPQRST for Austere Environments
BLUF: When professional care is delayed or unavailable, a structured medical history replaces diagnostics. SAMPLE and OPQRST are decision-support frameworks that help you manage people, risk, and resources when help is far away.
Why This Course Matters
In disasters, wilderness environments, and long-duration emergencies, you lose diagnostics before you lose symptoms. There may be no ambulance, no lab work, no imaging, and no clear evacuation timeline. The structured medical history becomes one of your most powerful preparedness tools.
SAMPLE and OPQRST are not just assessment mnemonics — used correctly, they are decision-support frameworks that help you allocate scarce supplies, decide when to evacuate, and prevent predictable medical failures in your group.
Orientation & Course Materials
Lesson 0 — Course Introduction
Orientation & Course Materials
How to use this course, download links for companion workbook, and overview of the SAMPLE + OPQRST integrated protocol.
The Preparedness Case for Medical History
Lesson 1
The Preparedness Case for Medical History
Why infrastructure collapses before symptoms do. How medical history replaces diagnostics in disaster and austere environments.
SAMPLE — Building a Baseline Before Crisis
Lesson 2
SAMPLE — Building a Baseline Before Crisis
Using SAMPLE proactively: documenting signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, past medical history, last intake, and event triggers for every household and group member.
OPQRST — Assessing the Active Complaint
Lesson 3
OPQRST — Assessing the Active Complaint
Onset, Provocation, Quality, Region, Severity, Timing — using each element as a decision tool, not just a data point. Interpreting patterns to identify red flags.
Integrating SAMPLE + OPQRST
Lesson 4
Integrating SAMPLE + OPQRST
How the two mnemonics work together. Conducting a full assessment without redundancy. Austere environment adaptations for unconscious or unresponsive patients.
Austere & Wilderness Considerations
Lesson 5
Austere & Wilderness Considerations
Environmental context: altitude, cold, heat, dehydration, toxins, and trauma. Resource rationing decisions. When to manage in place vs. initiate evacuation.
Patient Care Handoff Report
Lesson 6
Patient Care Handoff Report
Translating field assessment data into a structured handoff report. MIST and SBAR formats. Verbal and written handoff to higher medical care or emergency services.
Scenario-Based Assessment & Patient Report Writing
Lesson 7 — Capstone Assessment
Scenario-Based Assessment & Patient Report Writing
Three full-scenario exercises: analyze patient information, complete SAMPLE + OPQRST, and write a complete handoff report. Reveal-answer knowledge checks throughout.
Recommended Field Tools
TCCC Cards (4×6) — Pack of 5
Laminated tactical combat casualty care reference cards for field use. Designed to survive austere environments.
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TCCC Cards (4×6) — Pack of 10
10-card pack for training teams, preparedness groups, or go-bag distribution.
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Medical Card Set: Triage, MARCH & Secondary Assessment
Credit card-sized laminated cards covering triage priorities, MARCH primary assessment, and secondary trauma assessment. Wallet-ready for go-bags.
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M-A-R-C-H Assessment Card
Standalone MARCH primary assessment reference card — the essential companion to MED-01 and MED-02 training.
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Patient Encounter Documentation Cards (4×6) — Patreon
Field documentation cards for recording patient encounters, vital signs, and SAMPLE/OPQRST findings during extended incidents.
View Product
Medical Disclaimer: This course is for educational and preparedness planning purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek professional medical care when available. Training information reflects general preparedness principles and is not a substitute for formal medical certification or provider-level training.