Chain Of Evacuation Flashcards
What was the role of stretcher bearers
Very dangerous job.
Recovered the dead and wounded from no man’s land. They would go out at night or at breaks in fighting. This led to them having to overcome mud, shell craters and crowded trenches, sometimes in darkness. It took 4 men to carry a stretcher, sometimes more in deep mud. They would carry basic medical supplies, such as bandages, with them.
What was the role of the RAP
Regimental aid post.
Close to the front line, such as in a dugout. Here, minor injuries would be treated so that soldiers could return to the front line, those who needed more treatment were moved onto dressing stations.
What was the role of dressing stations
Often set up in a tent behind the trenches.
Seriously injured soldiers were moved onto a casualty clearing station by motor ambulance.
What was the role of CCS
Casualty clearing stations.
Treat serious injuries, doctors nurses and surgeons, operating theatres, mobile x ray machines and hospital ward beds
In abandoned buildings
What was the role of base hospitals
A base hospital was where very serious injuries were treated. They were usually in
large converted buildings. A base hospital had operating theatres, X-ray departments and specialist centres for treatment of specific problems, such as gas poisoning. The wounded would arrive here by train / motor ambulance.
They were near to coasts+ports.
What was the CCS triage
- Waking wounded were helped and returned to battle
- Those in need of hospital treatment
- Severely wounded and no chance of recovery, comforted
What was the RAMC
Royal army medical corps
Responsible for medical care, founded in 1898, treated + evacuated quickly, medical officers and stretched bearers
What was the FANY
First aid nursing yeomanry
Founded in 1907, first women’s voluntary organisation on the western front, offered frontline support for medical services eg driving ambulances
What was the order of the chain of evacuation
Stretcher bearers ~> RAP
RAP ~> ambulance wagon
Ambulance wagon ~> dressing station
Dressing station ~> motor ambulance
Motor ambulance ~> CCS
CCS ~> train
Train ~> base hospital
What is the chain of evacuation
The main stages a casualty would go through from the frontline to the base hospital, if an injury was serious it might go straight to the hospital but if it was less severe it may only go so far up the chain.
problems with stretcher bearers
Exposed to shelling/gunfire
Slow to carry wounded
Had to wait for the wounded to be stable to move
Tiring job
Problems with ambulance wagons
At least 2 horses needed, sometimes six in bad terrain
Too high demand
Shake about wounded, worsen injuries
Not enough transport = soldiers die or taken prisoner
Slow
Horses unreliable
Problems with motor ambulances
Struggled in muddy terrain therefore horses still had to be used
What was the problem with train, barge and ship ambulances
Damaged the war effort (too many trains on rail network)
Canal barges were slow
Describe train barge and ship ambulances
Final stages of evacuation to base hospital
Spaces for stretchers fitted into carriages
Canal barges were an alternative to the overcrowded rail network
More comfortable
Could bypass base hospitals and get men home as soon as possible
