Student Reviews

I have taken a few in-person courses with Dr. Shertz. I have taken two other TCCC courses, including a train the trainer. This was my first online course. The course was excellent. It felt like I was sitting in Dr. Shertz class during the lecture portions. Dr. Shertz is an excellent presenter and trainer with a smooth delivery and the ability to give a lot of information in a way that keeps your attention. You can tell that he is an expert in the field and that he is passionate about it. I like that Dr. Shertz gives you more information than just “do this.” He gives background information and talks about how and why things are done. He gives a lot of information from studies in order to support his statements and the interventions taught. I found it extremely interesting.

It isn’t always practical to find a local class or to travel for training. I think that is where these online courses come in. Take one of these online courses and follow it up with practicing the physical skills shown in the course. Any first responder, gun owner, parent, hunter, etc should know this stuff. Do the training before you need it.

Great information, even better presentation of the material. A fantastic alternative to an in person class. It kept my interest start to finish (which is tough to do for cops). Nice job Doc!

The absolute best TCCC course I’ve taken. I had multiple opportunities taking TCCC/CLS training from and with 68W and 18D in the past, but this course was the most educational one. Course was well designed with tons of good info including background info. I wish to take a hands-on class with Crisis Medicine to hone my skills if possible to test all the knowledge I learned through the online course. This course is highly recommendable to all military members and first responders, and I wish standard military medical training available to all service members is equivalent to this CM course.

I have taken 3 courses from Crisis Medicine and the T-CBRN course was my favorite. Dr Shertz always teaches in a way that makes difficult topics easier to understand. I went into the T-CBRN course with little knowledge on the subject and he presented the information in a way that was informative but not over my head. He uses very relevant data and anecdotes with the information he presents so that it all makes sense. Dr. Shertz does not ramble or give unimportant information, and unlike some instructors, his courses do not seem like infomercials promoting a brand. He also has a sense of humor that makes learning more fun.

I highly recommend Crisis Medicine and will continue to enroll in future classes taught by Dr Shertz.

Having completed a TCCC prior to this I was a bit unsure doing one online, however, I had heard a lot about the good Doctor and took the plunge… and I’m glad I did, great work really enjoyed the course.

Keep up the great work.

The information in this course would be valuable in a number of settings, but it’s an absolute must for law enforcement. Having taken a ton of online courses (completed a Masters Degree online), I was really surprised at how well this course delivered. All of the content was relevant… NO fluff.

Dr. Shertz was an engaging presenter, and it was clearly evident that he knows his stuff. The section on wound ballistics was the most thorough information I’d ever gotten on the subject, both as a Marine and a Sheriff’s Deputy, and it put casualty care approaches in context. Speaking as a School Resource Deputy, this should be required training for anyone who knows that they have the potential for being involved in an active violent event.

If you are looking for a TCCC course as initial instruction or as a refresher, this is the one. The way that the videos were setup into modules made it easy to complete while at work, in between calls for service. The videos and photographs used in the program gave a real-world look at the injuries we may encounter. The wound ballistics lesson was especially interesting as it provided insight into what type of wound you can expect from a gunshot. I would absolutely recommend this class to others and will be looking to take the advanced course soon.

This class is top notch. I am a full time firefighter/paramedic, while on shift, I was dispatched to a residential structure fire. On our arrival we found a single story residential structure that was well involved with the human occupants outside. During my crews interior fire attack, my LT pulled 2 dogs from the home. Local law enforcement attempted to start treatment of the k9’s. While functioning as engineer and bringing tools to the front door I noticed that the officers had no idea what they were doing. I was able to quickly assist them in the proper positioning of the K9’s and give verbal commands that led to the successful resuscitation of one of the dogs. I am confident that prior to this class I wouldn’t have had the knowledge base or the confidence to perform as I did with this patient type. I absolutely recommend this class to anyone working in EMS, Law Enforcement with K9’s, or anyone that is a dog owner.

Thank you for teaching such a fantastic course (Complete Tactical Casualty Care)! I learned more in the past week than I did in all of my education and the last ten years of practicing medicine. Thank you for what you do!

The Advanced TC2 class was invaluable. I’m glad this course was more than just learning about tourniquets for hemorrhage control. Having the hands-on practice of wound packing, wrapping junctional wounds, and needle decompression on real models has given me a lot of confidence in my ability to address more than just bleeding out of arms and legs.

The online course including wound packing videos was very helpful and informative. I think [our police] officers have a lot of comfort with tourniquets but because they’re only for arms and legs, and it was interesting to be given a possible solution for bleeding from other areas of the body where the tourniquet wouldn’t be appropriate.

I was fortunate enough to take this course after completing TC2, which I thoroughly enjoyed. As a police officer, and current EMS student, I wanted to learn and see more of what I could do to help in the field. My theory on my profession, and my life, is to be as well rounded and educated as possible. This course, with the help of Dr. Shertz, certainly provided me what I was looking for. Honestly, I believe I learned more from Dr. Shertz in his courses, than I did an entire 18 week EMS course for Basic EMT.Not only did he address the basics, but he covered skills that directly translate into the real world in a way that is easy to follow. It’s a lot of information, but it’s useful information that can help save lives. As a police officer my sole duty is to protect and save lives, this course will hopefully allow me to do that better. After completing both TC2 & CTC2, I would more than recommend them to anyone interested in learning how to save a life in the field, regardless of skill level. It’s easy to see Dr. Shertz is a stand up gentleman, aside from his well spoken lectures and sly humor, he cares for the education of others. I certainly hope I can pay it forward some day with the skills I learned from him.

This class is top notch. It is by far one of the best, if not the best medical classes I have ever taken. Owner/ Instructor Dr. Mike Shertz is not only extremely knowledgeable and experienced in this field but can also effectively explain things in a way that makes sense for real world applications. This isn’t one of those Paramedic / medical classes where you verbalize what you want done and move on. This is a class where you learn to work your problem in a very well orchestrated, real-world scenario, with real role players, and keep working the problem until it’s solved.

Crisis Medicine overall sets the standard for real world medical training. I have done the 5 day Complete TC2 in-person class twice and each time learned new skills, techniques and other little nuggets of information.

Recently I joined a SWAT Team as the team physician, after being a board-certified emergency physician for over 10 years with ATLS training I thought I was ready for the team. After taking the complete course I realized how much I did not know about Tactical Medicine.

After hours and hours covering relevant topics backed up by real-world experience and research studies, I feel much more confident that I can contribute to my SWAT team in a medical capacity. Mike gave solid advice of what works and what doesn’t work, I felt he spoke my language as a physician and was very to-the-point. His experience as a Special Teams Medic and a current Emergency Physician made him the perfect instructor for this topic.

This online course brings you as close to real hands-on training as I can imagine and though it can’t replace practical training, it very likely outmatches many practical courses out there on the instructional side.

Mike Shertz has a solid background in combat casualty care in military, law enforcement, and civilian settings. He presents his material in a way that makes you feel like following an actual class. Good presentation skills and a sense of humour make it enjoyable to listen to him.

The online course is professionally made and offers you theory and skill videos, different quizzes about the topics of TCCC and a summary manual. After finishing the course, you can also print a certificate of your participation. You will learn not just how different techniques work, but also the why, results of different studies, historical background, statistics from military all over the world, and alternative techniques in case one doesn’t work. The videos contain a wide range of medical diagrams, pictures of casualties, videos where you see the techniques conducted on actual patients, followed by “pig-lab” videos and training on dummies, and even cadavers.

I highly liked the Instructor’s mindset regarding having a Plan B. By the end of the course you will not just have a primary and alternative, but also a contingency and emergency plan for almost all the techniques. His SF background really shows up, when he shows you how to improvise with the most basic and often improvised tools, in case you run out of commercially available products.

If you are looking for a way to self-study and improve your knowledge about this topic, I can highly recommend this course.

I feel much more prepared after this course (on-line TC2). I am a South African Police officer, am certified in First Aid, and also did the Control The Bleed course (the same one you have in the US) recently.

This TC2 course really taught me a lot. I like the style in which Mike presents it and I value his opinions. The course stimulated me to think about certain concepts and I will surely carry this knowledge with wherever I go.

Great course to take. Important information.

Can start the course and return to finish a course after responding to a call.

I recently completed the online, on-demand version of Tactical Casualty Care (TC2) by Crisis Medicine. I’ve received medical training from several Law Enforcement academies and in-service programs, all of which focused on the basics. I went into this course to refresh my knowledge of how to deal with trauma, and TC2 exceeded my expectations.

The elephant in the room, and I’m sure no one disagrees, is that these skills are best learned when there is an opportunity to practice over and over under the watchful eye of the instructor. For those for whom in-person training is not immediately possible, however, this is an excellent alternative.

The course is well-organized and thorough. There are great nuggets of hard-won knowledge throughout, some of which I had not been taught elsewhere, including on ballistics, bandages, tourniquets, CPR, and tension pneumothorax.

Dr. Shertz has an extremely impressive medical background, and that is invaluable. But knowledge is only part of the equation for a course like this. I’m sure many of us have experienced instructors who were very knowledgeable, but had trouble transmitting that knowledge. Not so here.

I have had the good fortune to receive instruction from prominent experts in other areas, many of whom have the advantage of being in fields where communication and public speaking are inherent to their entire academic and professional trajectories. The incisive, precise, and confident delivery Dr. Shertz showcases in this course puts many of those other instructors to shame. There is also an excellent use of dry, dark humor sprinkled in.

I have been working in the Tactical Emergency Medicine for almost 30 years. I have been doing it full time for the Federal Government for 15 of those years. Our shop provides tactical medicine education in addition to operational direct action support in all aspects of the tactical medicine work space to include CBRN operational environment.

This is truly the most well put together, comprehensive CBRN medical course I have ever taken. Honestly better than most hands on courses I have taken on the topic. My hat is off to Dr. Shertz on the research he has done in this space and what he has created with this course. TOP SHELF.

I have known Doc Shertz since 2001. In nearly two decades of having received training from him, I have attended numerous courses he’s taught including his five-day/44-hour in-person TCCC course. The training I just received in the on-line Advanced TC2 course is exactly like training with Doc Shertz in person. This includes everything from how he shares various stories to his sense of humor. If one can’t train with him in person, his online training through Crisis Medicine is the next best thing!

Some things I really liked that stood out with the on-line course was the ability to skip around the various modules if needed, as well as being able to see how many minutes each module was ahead of time.

The short quizzes were good too. They offered just enough of an assessment to ensure the student was awake and not just “clicking through,” but not challenging for folks who paid attention through the course material.

Overall, the video and sound production was very well done, including background colors, visuals, etc. This included various camera angles and a good balance between Doc Shertz talking and the PowerPoint presentation he was going over. At no point did it ever feel like a “death by PowerPoint.” The instructional format kept me interested the entire time.

Being in a reserve component of the military, I have completed countless required online training courses. I can honestly say Crisis Medicine’s online course was the best I have ever done.

I found the Advanced TC2 online course to be simply outstanding.

I have had the privilege of attending several of Dr. Shertz’s live courses. The ATC2 online course provided the same high level of professional instruction as the in-person classes.

The ATC2 online course is well designed and intuitive to navigate. The comprehensive curriculum is masterfully delivered through informative and entertaining lecture, combined with impressive visuals. The time required for each section of the ATC2 course is clearly displayed, which made it easy for me to train during my erratic schedule on the narcotics unit.

I valued Dr. Shertz’s no bull sh!t perspective when evaluating first aid gear.

The video scenarios do an excellent job of demonstrating how the techniques could be used in real-world situations.

Anyone who calls themselves a “first responder” needs the information in the ATC2 course. I would recommend Crisis Medicine courses to anyone who enjoys outdoor recreation such as hunting, hiking, and off-road motor-sports.

Thank you for sharing the knowledge.

I am a Engineer/Paramedic with Bend Fire & Rescue. I am also a Tactical Medic with the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team (CERT). My fellow team medic and I were tasked with taking your course as a “test run” to determine if it is an effective way to educate the entire Bend Police Department on TCCC. We both intend to report back an enthusiastic ‘yes’ (in spite of the frequent disparaging remarks about Marines and our affinity for coloring books, reflective stickers and bouncy balls). Furthermore, we look forward to your company recommencing with in-person courses, so that the two of us can hone our robust and godlike medical skills for the tactical environment.

* [Note from Crisis Medicine, we deny any disparaging remarks about said coloring books, reflective stickers and bouncy balls.]

I have 11 years of experience as a street, SAR, SWAT, and now an industrial medic at remote sites in Northern Canada. I’ve taken quite a few courses and been to and led countless tactical trainings/inservices. Dr. Shertz’s course was some of the best training I’ve received. He manages to provide a solid foundation and practice combined with a good amount of exploration of the different options available as far as gear, which is important when you may not know what you will have available or approved at different sites and services. His presentation style is engaging, without devolving into war stories. His SF background is invaluable, and his ER experience makes the information provided here relatable and actionable for civilian and LEO EMS professionals who aren’t downrange. He covered everything that we covered during my initial TCCC training, with updates and additions that help me integrate the TCCC principles to my everyday EMS and tactical practice. There is a huge amount of crossover between the tactical principles in this course and my current work as an industrial medic in the mining sector, as industry provides plenty of opportunity for blunt trauma, crush, environmental, HAZMAT, and blast injuries, not to mention extraction challenges.

There’s no substitute for hands-on training, so I’m looking forward to attending a course with Dr. Shertz when I need to refresh! That being said, I would recommend this online course to anyone, especially while it’s difficult to do in-person training during the current pandemic.

Another great creation from Crisis Medicine! I took this class and I’m not even a K9 handler, but now I feel confident that if any of my working K9’s need urgent care, I now have the knowledge to help prevent a K9 casualty. Any K9 handler I come across, this course will be mentioned to them! Great job and keep up the great work!

This is outstanding training. I’m a Firefighter, but I spent nearly a decade as a Federal agent, plus several years in two different branches of the military. In these jobs, I’ve sat through hundreds of hours of online training. Dr. Shertz’s course was totally different. He was engaging and authentic. Rather than speeding through slides to get to the end of the course, I found myself taking notes, rewinding lectures, and viewing blocks of instruction multiple times until I was certain I understood the concepts. I appreciated his depth of knowledge and his passion for the subject matter is clear. This is a high-quality course that I’d recommend to both Firefighters and LEOs.

The Crisis-Medicine TC2 Course is an outstanding block of curriculum for organizations aiming to bring individuals and groups up to a vital standard for emergency response to trauma casualties. Dr. Shertz delivers compelling and entertaining, no-nonsense solutions to critical problems. The material is both erudite and entertaining with a massive dose of brutal reality and comprehensive trauma problem solving for the tactical paradigm. Our unit has implemented this program as a required block for all personnel. Excellent training.

My Lt asked me to evaluate the course and see if it was something we should offer to the rest of the agency. After taking this course, I am giving him a resounding yes.

In 25 years of LE experience, I have sat through HOURS of in-person and online training. This is by far one of the best online courses I have ever taken. I might even say the top 10 trainings period. The Dr. was informative, engaging and enjoyable to watch.

This course is outstanding. Mike is a phenomenal instructor. He keeps you engaged and has set the course up to it is easy to follow. Whether you are new to first aid or a doctor, I promise you will find the course informative and entertaining. I love that his experience and training is reflected in the course as well. It is also great that he backs up everything with medical literature and research, and when he disagrees or has an opinion he clearly tells you it is his opinion and supports it with rational and solid reasoning. He is also quite witty and funny at times. Cannot wait to take the next course!

No death by power point here. I definitely felt as if I was in the classroom the entire time. Hands down best online course for any subject matter I have taken.

After being in Public Safety for over 20 years in a mix of LE and Fire/EMS it was refreshing to watch an online class that kept my attention. Being a Tactical Medic this CE was extremely relevant and will do our team well. I look forward to the other classes Crisis-Medicine offers. I must also add the customer service is amazing. Prompt email response, and genuine willingness to work with us, and doing so the whole time in a nice friendly manner. You can not go wrong by using this group! Excellent job from A to Z.

I am a TEMS unit member for a small, but busy urban EMS service in Canada. With the advent of our K9 prehospital care program, I chose this course to augment my current knowledge. Dr. Shertz presented a very well-organized, module-based learning platform that is engaging and supported by studies. The timeline is more than adequate to complete the course at the learner’s convenience. Visual skills demonstration and a final curriculum test rounds off this online-learning course. Very well done. Would highly recommend.

Dr. Shertz has the unique ability to provide tactical medical training from both a Special Forces Medic (18D) background as well as being a board certified physician.

Being prepared to defend yourself or others from a violent incident includes being prepared to provide lifesaving medical attention when needed. Anyone who carries a firearm professionally or as an armed citizen should take this course.

My agency recently used the Wound Ballistics section for supplemental training for all our EMR certified police officers. The information was great and the officers learned a lot. This course is great for anyone who treats or creates gunshot wounds. I had nothing but positive feedback from all of our police officers. In addition, the staff at Crisis Medicine was great to work with!

I have known Doc Shertz since 2001. In nearly two decades of having received training from him, I have attended numerous courses he’s taught including his five-day/44-hour in-person TCCC course.

The training I just received in the on-line Advanced TC2 course is exactly like training with Doc Shertz in person. This includes everything from the way he shares various stories to his sense of humor. If one can’t train with him in person, his on-line training through Crisis Medicine is the next best thing!

Some things I really liked that stood out with the on-line course was the ability to skip around the various modules if needed, as well as being able to see how many minutes each module was ahead of time.

The short quizzes were good too. They offered just enough of an assessment to ensure the student was awake and not just “clicking through,” but not challenging at all for folks who payed attention through the course material.

Overall, the video and sound production was very well done including background colors, visuals, etc. This included various camera angles and a good balance between Doc Shertz talking and the PowerPoint presentation he was going over. At no point did it ever feel like a “death by PowerPoint” type of presentation. The instructional format kept me interested the entire time.

Being in a reserve component of the military, I have completed countless on-line training courses that are required. I can honestly say the on-line course I just completed through Crisis Medicine was the best on-line course I have ever done.

Thank you Doc Shertz for another incredible training opportunity! Your on-line training format is remarkable and the content will definitely save lives. I will certainly recommend it to others!

This is a comprehensive and thorough course in an easy to follow and understand format from an amazing instructor. I would love to take the in-person version of this course as a refresher someday.

I am on our Defensive Tactics Team. This material is hands-down the best online training I have attended. The material is fantastic and the ruggedly handsome guy is a great presenter.

This course is on point and expertly delivered. Mike walks you through a complete MARCH assessment and treatment of a K9 with your current skills, IFAK, and med bag. I’ve had the pleasure of being in Mike’s company several times over the years, and I wish all on-line training was as well delivered and as effective. I signed all our medics up for this course prior to recert and running K9 trauma lanes.
Scott Kimball, US Marshals, Special Operations Group – Deputy Commander