DEATHS DUE TO GROUND COMBAT
31 percent--Penetrating head trauma
25 percent--Surgically uncorrectable torso trauma
10 percent--Potentially correctable surgical trauma
9 percent--Exsanguination from extremity wounds
7 percent--Mutilating blast trauma
5 percent--Tension pneumothorax
1 percent--Airway problems
12 percent--Died of Wounds after evacuation to a MTF,
mostly infections and complications of shock
Table 1-1. Estimated breakdown of battlefield deaths.
NOTE:
Over 2500 soldiers died in Viet Nam because of hemorrhage from extremity
wounds even though the soldiers had no other serious injuries.
1-2.
TACTICAL COMBAT CASUALTY CARE
Tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) can be divided into three phases. The
first is care under fire; the second is tactical field care; the third is combat casualty
evacuation care. In the first, you are under hostile fire and are very limited as to the
care you can provide. In the second, you and the casualty are safe and you are free to
provide casualty care to the best of your ability. In the third, the care is rendered during
casualty evacuation (CASEVAC). Casualty evacuation refers to the movement of
casualties aboard non-medical vehicles or aircraft. Combat casualty evacuation care is
rendered while the casualty is awaiting pickup or is being transported by a non-medical
vehicle.
NOTE:
Casualty evacuation is different from medical evacuation (MEDEVAC). In
MEDEVAC, medical vehicles (ground ambulances), medical helicopters (air
ambulances), or other medical transportation is being used.
IS0871
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