Under what circumstances would you perform tactical field care?

Tactical field care is performed when there is no longer enemy fire, allowing medical personnel to assess and treat a casualty in a safer environment. In this phase, the focus shifts from immediate life-threatening dangers in the combat zone to providing necessary medical attention without the imminent risk of being shot at or attacked.

When enemy fire is present, immediate actions may need to be focused on survival and evasion rather than on administering medical care. Once the area is secure and the threat has been mitigated, personnel can then safely implement tactical field care protocols, which include assessing the casualty’s condition, providing necessary treatments, and potentially evacuating the injured individual.

In scenarios like being under direct enemy fire or when the casualty is not breathing, immediate intervention may require drastic measures such as self-defense or airway management in a combat setting, rather than the more deliberate and comprehensive care that tactical field care encompasses. The emphasis of tactical field care is on stabilizing the casualty while avoiding further risk to care providers and other personnel involved.