Changes to the Primary Survey

[Brotzie]

Lessons learned on the battlefield are finding their way into mainstream wilderness medicine:

http://www.expeditionmedicine.co.uk/index.php/advice/resource/r-0044.html

[one-eyed Bob]

Are you familiar with any of their volunteer jobs for physicians?

[Brotzie]

Not through personal experience, but I'd be willing to bet Sean and/or Caroline know most all of the people who are looking for volunteers; I'd suggest getting in touch with them through Expedition Medicine.

[Take-a-knee]

Forget ABC's.

Remember SCAB

Shoot back

CONTROL HEMMORHAGE- practice with your issue tourniquet and place it as close to the trunk/torso as possible...like, you ain't done yet?

Airway- Nasal Pharyngeal Airway (Trumpet) in the conscious casualty. Airway algorithms end with an ET tube, you can use a laryngoscope, your index fingers, or make a new hole (Cricothyroidotomy)

Breathing- CPR doesn't work in combat, but recognizing and treating a tension pneumothorax is a see-one, do-one easy skill to teach. Dropping a lung is the number two battlefield killer behind bleeding out, at least, that you can do anything about.

When you get these things handled, then worry about fluids. Get an IV early and put a saline lock on it, let the medic worry about fluids.