Eliminating Preventable Death on the Battlefield
Abstract
The objective of the study was to evaluate battlefield survival in a novel command- directed casualty response system that comprehensively integrates Tactical Combat Casualty Care guidelines and a prehospital trauma registry. Study analyzed battle injury data collected during combat deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq from October 1, 2001, through March 31, 2010 by members of the 75th Ranger Regiment, US Army Special Operations Command. Casualties were scrutinized for preventable adverse outcomes and opportunities to improve care. Comparisons were made with Department of Defense casualty data for the military as a whole. The study concluded a command-directed casualty response system, that trains all personnel in Tactical Combat Casualty Care and receives continuous feedback from prehospital trauma registry data, facilitated Tactical Combat Casualty Care performance improvements centered on clinical outcomes that resulted in unprecedented reduction of killed-in-action deaths, casualties who died of wounds, and preventable combat death. This data-driven approach is the model for improving prehospital trauma care and casualty outcomes on the battlefield and has considerable implications for civilian trauma systems
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 15, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA549496
Entities
People
- Bari M. Kotwal
- Frank K. Butler Jr.
- Harold R. Montgomery
- Howard R. Champion
- Jeffrey S. Cain
- John B Holcomb
- Kathy K. Mechler
- Lorne H Blackbourne
- Robert L. Mabry
- Russ S. Kotwal