What are some good ways you have grown your skill sets in emergency medical preparedness? What are some specific resources the average joe can use to grow in this area? Training programs, online learning, books, etc. What is your experience with these resources, and why would you recommend them? How do you stay proficient?

This should be a great thread Andy. I was an active firefighter, EMT-A back in the 1980-90's and stopped recertification of my EMT in 2000. Man, how things have changed in the medical field. I have a nephew that is an ex S.F. (Green Beret) and he is going with the medical thing in civilian life. He just passed his National EMT and is going for medic next. He is trying to bring me back up to speed. Everyone needs the basics. I may be the one working on him, ya just never know. So, friends and/or family may be the cheapest. Only a few beers per hour, in my case. JCKC
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Here are a couple of great online places to begin for the average joe

https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/emt

https://www.stopthebleed.org/training/online-course/

Greg is right, we have stop the bleed kits in our school, and I got certified as a trainer last year.

Tourniquet the limbs, pack the junctions, seal the box.

James is a #STUD and may save a life someday

As an average joe you are most likely either come across or be involved in an auto accident or an injury in a garage. Bleeding is common and readily interrupted by this 'average joe' guy. Gauze, tampons, tq's, hell a sammich baggie and duct tape can create a chest seal in a pinch. There is a ton of good info out there - but beware - there is a ton of craptastic stuff also. Stay with well known simple stuff. Start simple and be a sponge - every single one of us are capable of learning enough to save a life...

I have been a paramedic/firefighter since 1991. The best training you can get is MFR (medical first responder) short course (usually free if you volunteer). It scratches the surface across a lot subjects, and sets you up to become a lifelong provider. If you volunteer at your local fire department or rescue you will soon have a reasonable skill set and experience base to actually make a difference.

PrepMedic and SkinnyMedic on YouTube have some great videos to watch. People knock YouTube, but anyone who's ever bene in a med school class (without lawyer disclaimers) knows the protocol is: Watch one. Do one. Teach one.

While videos alone don't make expertise, expert is a relative quality. And videos DO give you the ability to plan and organize your training time and resources to get maximal value out of what we do.

I do have advanced life support practice and training. But as I tell my wife often: If someone needs a needle decompression, they're not going to be asking for my certificate first. And one of the best trauma med docs whose med school class I audited even advised "Decompress them both. The risk of not getting decompression is higher than the risk of doing them both if done properly." I have watched numerous videos on various procedures and am likely to be watching a needle decompression on a cadaver while waiting for the waiter to bring my drink. Because...'Murica.

So there's an art to it that only the guy who patches six bullet holes a day knows. A lot of what we do is preparing to have skills that we hope to never have to use. Unless you live in Chicago, your chances of doing multiple bullet holes per day are slim to none. You're more likely to use a Heimlich. Which, in three decades of training, I've only actually used twice. Now I have a de-choker...that hopefully always gathers dust.

Keep in mind: Experts all have strong opinions. Experts often contradict. Experts have good reasons why they diverge. All are right. Find a way to try it out in a safe manner...to experience WHY the diverge. Then train to that and understand the limitations introduced by your choice.

The absolute BEST medical training that you can get, without going to school for a decade, is joining your local fire department/ambulance service. If you are in a small town it's probably a 100% volunteer department with a dozen or so tired and burnt out people that really would more help. Most departments will pay for your classes if you sign a contract with them. Go become and EMT, or if your state offers it an EMR. And then RUN on an ambulance. You WILL learn how to save lives in tons of scenarios. Medical training should NOT just be stop the bleed. (although that is VERY important). how many times have you seen or heard of someone getting shot or stabbed? It's pretty rare. But people have cardiac and diabetic emergencies every single day. Something as simple as keeping aspirin and oral glucose in your glove box could save someone's life, and is much more likely to save a life than the cr920 on your belt or the TQ on your ankle.

We are warrior poets, we are supposed to step in the gap and defend and protect life. most small towns need more volunteers. Go fill that gap.

EMR and PHTLS is what I've been told should be my goals unless you actually want to do EMT, and a lot of places will require you to be at least an EMT-b before you can even take PHTLS. STB is ok for the average citizen but doesn't honestly go far enough in my opinion, neither does BLS/AED/CPR. its a good place to start but it is pretty entry level as it gets.

I LOVED the MED 1 + 2 classes I took with Doc T / WPS in late 2020. Changed my mindset about prepping and day to day life quite a bit.

It led to a situation where I was ready to help but thankfully didn't have to, described here:
https://www.watchwpsn.com/forums/general/60747-thanks-to-wps-for-the-medical-classes

This is why I am grateful for the training WPS provides. It's literally changed my life in some ways, very much so for the better. And no matter how challenging the classes are, they're always fun and provided in a spirit of wanting you to learn and grow. Good times.

Now I just have to start putting ON the Cankle trauma kit when I go out into the world....