A Critical Review of Casualties from Non-Combat Submarine Incidents and Current US Navy Medical Response Capability with Specific Focus on the Application of Prolonged Field Care to Disabled Submarine Survival and Rescue

Abstract

Survival in a Disabled Submarine (DISSUB) event depends upon many variables, one of which is a rapid and appropriate medical response, with assets capable of providing various levels of medical care in a complex and remote mass casualty situation. This report presents an overview of current understanding of risks to survival, existing response capability and initiatives, and develops a phased casualty estimate to support medical loadout planning for Disabled Submarine rescue and surface abandonment scenarios. We identify and suggest mitigation for a number of shortfalls in medical response capability, some of which validate existing R and D efforts and objectives, while others warrant additional SUBFOR operator and medical authority consideration. We specifically explore the relevance of Prolonged Field Care (PFC) capabilities to the DISSUB scenario and to wider submarine critical care / mass casualty incidents, and advocate the application of PFC principles and skillsets to enhance medical response capability.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 16, 2019
Accession Number
AD1072436

Entities

People

  • Anthony J. Quatroche
  • David M. Fothergill
  • Lesley A. Whybourn
  • Nathan A. Moss

Organizations

  • Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Airway Management
  • Analgesia
  • Boats
  • Combat Casualty Care
  • Fish
  • Health Services
  • Marine Transportation
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Medicine
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • Nuclear Propulsion

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Trauma or Military Medicine