introduction to the combat lifesaver course - UNC Charlotte Army ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Introduction to the Combat Lifesaver Course n 2354. If you decide you can safely move the casualty to a safe area, you may need toadminister lifesaving care (such as a tourniquet to stop bleeding) before movingthe casualty.• If the casualty is unresponsive, move the casualty and his or her weapon to coveras the tactical situation permits• If the casualty has severe bleeding from a limb (arm or leg) or has sufferedamputation of a limb, administer lifesaving hemorrhage control (i.e., apply atourniquet) before moving the casualty.5. Soldiers should communicate the medical situation to their team leader.6. Tactically transport the casualty, his or her weapon, and any mission-essentialequipment to cover.You render tactical fieldcare when no longerunder effective hostilefire. Tactical field carealso applies to situationsin which an injury hasoccurred on a mission,but there is no hostilefire, and the onlyavailable medicalequipment is whatthe CLS and individualSoldiers have carriedinto the field.7. Recheck the bleeding-control measures as the tactical situation permits.Performing Tactical Field CareYou perform tactical field care when you and the casualty are no longer under direct enemyfire. In general, you and your Soldiers should follow the following steps:1. Communication. Soldiers should communicate the medical situation to theirunit leader:• upon determining that the casualty can’t continue the mission• before initiating any medical procedures (ensure that the tactical situation allowsfor time to treat the casualty before initiating any medical procedures)• upon any significant change in the casualty’s status.2. General impression. Form a general impression of the casualty as you approach(extent of injuries, chance of survival, and so forth). Evaluate the tactical situation.3. Level of consciousness. When possible, determine the casualty’s level ofconsciousness using the AVPU system. Ask questions that require more thana “yes” or “no” answer; for example, “What is your name?” “What is the date?”“Where are we?” Recheck the casualty’s level of consciousness about every15 minutes to determine if the casualty’s condition has changed.4. Airway. Assess and secure the casualty’s airway.Maintaining a check onthe casualty’s level ofconsciousness isespecially importantwhen the casualty hassuffered a head injury.AVPU systema system tocommunicate acasualty’s statusA—The casualty is alert,knows who he or she is,the date, where youboth are, and so forthV—The casualty isnot alert, but respondsto verbal commandsP—The casualtyresponds to pain, butnot to verbal commandsU—The casualtyis unresponsive(unconscious)• If the casualty is conscious, can speak, and is not having trouble breathing, no airwayintervention is needed• If the casualty is unconscious, perform the following:• Use a head-tilt/chin-lift or jaw-thrust to open the airway. The head-tilt/chin-liftmethod is the normal method of opening the casualty’s airway. Use the jaw thrustmethod if you suspect that the casualty has suffered a spinal injury, in whichcase you don’t want to move the head
236 n SECTION 1Figure 1.1Unconscious casualty placed in the recovery position• Check the casualty for breathing. Place your ear over the casualty’s mouth andnose with your face toward the casualty’s chest while maintaining the casualty’sairway (head-tilt/chin-lift or jaw-thrust). Look for the rise and fall of the casualty’schest and abdomen. Listen for sounds of breathing. Feel for his or her breath onthe side of your face. If the casualty is not breathing, begin rescue breathing• If the casualty is breathing on his or her own, use a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA)device to maintain the airway• If the casualty has no additional injuries, roll the casualty into the recovery position(on his or her side). This allows accumulated blood and mucus to drain fromthe casualty’s mouth instead of choking the casualty.5. Chest. Assess and treat the casualty for chest injuries.• Expose the chest and check for equal rise and fall. Remove the minimum of clothingrequired to expose and treat injuries. Protect the casualty from the environment(heat and cold) as much as possible• Examine the chest for wounds. Check for both entrance and exit wounds (suckingchest wounds)• Immediately seal any penetrating injuries to the chest with airtight material. Sealone open chest wound with a three-sided seal (i.e., with one side of airtight materialleft untaped). Sealing the wound keeps air from entering the wound. If air can freelyenter through the wound, the casualty’s lung may collapse. The three-sided sealprevents air from entering the chest, but allows trapped air to escape• Monitor the casualty for increased difficulty breathing (severe respiratory distress—breathing becomes more labored and faster). If respiration becomes progressivelyworse, assume tension pneumothorax exists and decompress the affected chest sidewith a 14-gauge needle inserted at the second intercostal space (ICS) on midclavicularline (MCL). Secure the catheter in place with tape• If the casualty has been treated for an open chest wound, position or transport thecasualty with the affected (injured) side down, if possible. This way, the body pressureacts to “splint” the affected side.
Page 1 and 2: Section1INTRODUCTION TOTHE COMBAT L
Page 3 and 4: 232 n SECTION 1CLS Course Trains So
Page 5: 234 n SECTION 1Performing Care Unde
Page 9 and 10: 238 n SECTION 110. Combat pill pack

introduction to the combat lifesaver course - UNC Charlotte Army ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?