TCCC HM Flashcards
Name 3 Criteria for converting limb and junctional tourniquets to hemostatic or pressure dressings
- Casualty is not in shock
- It is possible to monitor the wound closely for bleeding
- Tourniquet is not being used to control bleeding from an amputated extremity.
Describe the needle/catheter needed for decompressing a TENSION PNEUMOTHORAX
14 Gauge
3.25” long
List the FIVE Locations for I/O
- Sternum
- Proximal Humerus
- Proximal Tibia (just under kneecap)
- Distal Tibia
- Tibia
What drug helps to reduce blood loss from INTERNAL hemorrhage sites that can’t be addressed by tourniquets + hemostatic dressings?
Tranexamic Acid (TXA)
Name the Battlefield Objectives of TCCC
- Treat the Casualty
- Prevent Additional Casualties
- Complete the Mission
Why do we need to learn about TCCC?
- Military units trained in TCCC have documented the lowest incidence of preventable deaths among their casualties in the history of modern warfare.
- TCCC is now used by all services of the U.S. Military and many allied nations for combat wounded care.
- TCCC-based pre-hospital trauma training is now becoming widespread in the civilian sector as well.
What two types of medical training was battlefield trauma modeled after prior to 9/11?
- Emergency Medical Technician [EMT]
2. Advanced Trauma Life Support [ATLS]
Eight differences of Prehospital Trauma Care in Military vs Civilian
- Hostile fire
- Darkness
- Environmental extremes
- Different wounding epidemiology
- Limited equipment
- Need for tactical maneuver
- Long delays to hospital care
- Different medic training and experience
Two leading causes of preventable deaths on the battlefield
- Hemorrhage
2. Tension pneumothorax
Facts about the Committee on TCCC (CoTCCC)
- 42 members from all services in the DoD + civilian sector
- Trauma Surgeons; Emergency Medicine; Critical Care Physicians; Combatant Unit Physicians; Medical Educators; Combat Medics; Corpsmen; and PJs (Para-Jumpers - AF Special Tactics)
- 100% Deployed Experience as of 2017
- Meet and update TCCC as needed
Characteristics of Battlefield Trauma Care Today
- Phased care in TCCC
- Aggressive use of Tourniquets in CUF
- Combat Gauze as hemostatic agent
- Aggressive needle thoracostomy*
- Sit up & lean forward airway positioning
- Surgical airways for maxillofacial trauma
- Hypotensive resuscitation
- IVs only when needed; IO access if required
- PO meds, OTFC**, ketamine as “Triple Option” for battlefield analgesia
- Hypothermia prevention; avoid NSAIDs
- Battlefield antibiotics
- Tranexamic Acid (TXA)
- Incision into the chest wall, with maintenance of the opening for drainage.
- *Oral Transmucosal Fentanyl Citrate
Characteristics of Battlefield Trauma Care Today
- Phased care in TCCC
- Aggressive use of Tourniquets in CUF
- Combat Gauze as hemostatic agent
- Aggressive needle thoracostomy*
- Sit up + lean forward airway positioning
- Surgical airways for maxillofacial trauma
- Hypotensive resuscitation
- IVs only when needed; IO access if required
- PO meds, OTFC**, ketamine as “Triple Option” for battlefield analgesia
- Hypothermia prevention; avoid NSAIDs
- Battlefield antibiotics
- Tranexamic Acid (TXA)
- Incision into the chest wall, with maintenance of the opening for drainage.
- *Oral Transmucosal Fentanyl Citrate
How many combat deaths today are potentially preventable?
Up to 24%
What is the best medicine on the battlefield?
Fire superiority
What type of injuries do not require C-Spine stabilization?
Head and neck injuries
What kind of injuries require c-spine stabilization in the field?
- Falls
- Fast-roping injuries
- Motor vehicle accidents
What is the #1 priority in CUF?
Early control of severe hemorrhage
What are signs of life threatening bleeding?
- Pulsing or steady bleeding
- Blood pooling
- Clothes soaked in blood
- Bandages are ineffective
- Traumatic amputation
- Prior bleeding leading to shock
What should all personnel on combat missions have on them at all times?
CoTCCC-recommended limb tourniquets
In what phase is Airway Management implemented?
Tactical Field Care
List considerations of Casualty Movement Rescue Plan
- LOCATION of nearest cover
- HOW best to move him to cover
- RISK to the rescuers
- WEIGHT of casualty and rescuer
- DISTANCE to be covered
- Using SUPPRESSION FIRE & SMOKE to best advantage
- Recover casualty’s WEAPONS if possible
List considerations of Casualty Movement Rescue Plan
- LOCATION of nearest cover
- HOW best to move him to cover
- RISK to the rescuers
- WEIGHT of casualty and rescuer
- DISTANCE to be covered
- Using SUPPRESSION FIRE + SMOKE to best advantage
- Recover casualty’s WEAPONS if possible
Guidelines of CUF
- Return fire and take cover
- Direct or expect casualty to remain engaged as a combatant if appropriate
- Direct casualty to move to cover and apply self-aid if able
- Try to keep the casualty from sustaining additional wounds
- Casualties should be extricated from burning vehicles or buildings and moved to a relative safety. Do what is necessary to stop the burning process.
- Stop life-threatening external hemorrhage if tactically feasible
- Defer Airway Management to TFC phase
Guidelines of CUF
- Return fire + take cover
- Direct or expect casualty to remain engaged as a combatant if appropriate
- Direct casualty to move to cover and apply self-aid if able
- Try to keep the casualty from sustaining additional wounds
- Casualties should be extricated from burning vehicles or buildings + moved to a relative safety. Do what is necessary to stop the burning process.
- Stop life-threatening external hemorrhage if tactically feasible
- Defer Airway Management to TFC phase
How many deaths occurred in Vietnam secondary to hemorrhage from external wounds?
Over 2500
Injury to a major vessel can quickly lead to what two things?
- Shock
2. Death
Where should the tourniquet be placed on a soldier’s battle gear?
A standard location
Signs of life-threatening bleeding
- Pulsing or steady bleeding
- Blood is pooling
- Clothes are soaked in blood
- Bandages are ineffective & steadily becoming soaked with blood.
- Traumatic amputations
- Patient is in shock because of prior bleeding (e.g. unconscious, confused, pale)
Signs of life-threatening bleeding
- Pulsing or steady bleeding
- Blood is pooling
- Clothes are soaked in blood
- Bandages are ineffective + steadily becoming soaked with blood.
- Traumatic amputations
- Patient is in shock because of prior bleeding (e.g. unconscious, confused, pale)
Guidelines for applying a tourniquet
- Not too narrow. 2” thick
- High + Tight
- Go directly to a tourniquet; forget about direct pressure, pressure dressings, or anything else.
- Do not put a tourniquet directly over the knee or elbow
- Do not put the tourniquet directly over a holster or cargo pocket that contains bulky items
- Do not apply a tourniquet for minimal bleeding
- Reassess regularly; monitor casualty closely
What should you do if a tourniquet fails to control the bleeding?
Apply a second tourniquet just above (proximal to) the first.
Places not to use a tourniquet
- Neck
- Axilla (armpit)
- Groin
For how long do you hold direct pressure on a wound?
Three minutes
Is it possible to apply a hemostatic agent such as Combat Gauze during CUF?
Not tactically feasible because you must hold direct pressure for 3 minutes.
What does MARCH stand for?
- Massive Hemorrhage (Control life threatening bleeding)
- Airway (Establish a patent airway)
- Respiration (Decompress suspected tension pneumothorax, seal open chest wounds, & support ventilation/oxygenation)
- Circulation (Establish IV/IO access & administer fluids to treat shock)
- Head injury/ Hypothermia (prevent/treat hypotension & hypoxia to prevent worsening of traumatic brain injury & prevent/ treat hypothermia
You approach a casualty with an altered mental status. What should be your first action?
Request you hold their weapon + communication equipment while you treat them.