Combat lifesaver

First aid kit of the French Army

A combat lifesaver is a service member who has received rudimentary training in advanced first aid skills. These advanced skills include wilderness first aid but also some paramedic skills such as airway management.

Combat lifesavers are not first aid providers or emergency medical technicians. They are a combination of both optimized to provide lifesaving care for trauma and medical emergencies on the battlefield.

Application

Combat lifesaver skills are exactly that, for use in combat conditions, however skills may be applied in non-combat conditions where soldiers are concerned. The combat lifesaver is instructed in various techniques to treat and stabilize injuries related to combat. To include, but not limited to, Blast injury, amputation, severe bleeding, penetrating chest injuries, simple airway management, and evacuation techniques. The combat lifesaver doctrine was developed as an effort to increase survivability in combat environments where the combat medic may not be readily available. The combat lifesaver is a bridge between self aid or buddy aid and the combat medic. The combat lifesaver can augment the combat medic as the situation necessitates.

Skills

• Basic Casualty Evaluation
• Airway Management
• Chest injury and Tension pneumothorax Management
• Controlling Bleeding
• I.V. Therapy
• Requesting Medical Evacuation

See also

• Combat medic
• Certified first responder

References

U.S. Army AIPD Course Curriculum ISO0873