Lesson 16 OVERVIEW of CLS TASKS and EQUIPMENT

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Combat Life Saver
Lesson 16OVERVIEW of CLS TASKS and EQUIPMENT
Compiled and edited by, 2LT John C. Miller, PA-C
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Lesson 16OVERVIEW of CLS TASKS and EQUIPMENT

• INTRODUCTION
• You have already been tested on your ability to
  perform the buddy-aid tasks which every soldier
  is expected to know and perform. The tasks you
  will now learn are tasks normally performed by
  the 91B combat medic. The most important task you
  will learn is to initiate an intravenous
  infusion. Initiating an intravenous infusion will
  help to control shock caused by blood loss,
  severe burns, or severe heat injury.

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OVERVIEW of CLS TASKS and EQUIPMENT

• TASK
• Identify the functions of the combat lifesaver
  and the contents of the combat lifesaver aid bag.
• CONDITIONS
• Given written items pertaining to the role of
  the combat lifesaver and to the combat lifesaver
  aid bag.
• STANDARD
• Score 70 or more points on the 100-point written
  examination.

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IDENTIFY THE PURPOSE OF THE COMBATLIFESAVER

• The Army doctrine was developed to be used on a
  battlefield in which combat elements are widely
  dispersed. This will create a problem for the
  Army Medical Department as well as the rest of
  the Army.
• Since the combat elements will be spread out and
  constantly on the move, it will be difficult for
  medical personnel such as the combat medic to
  quickly reach battlefield casualties.
• Part of the doctrine calls for regular,
  nonmedical soldiers to be given training in
  providing additional emergency care to wounded
  soldiers.

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IDENTIFY THE PURPOSE OF THE COMBATLIFESAVER

• This care will help a wounded soldier to survive
  those first few crucial minutes after he is
  wounded and help stabilize the soldier until he
  can be treated by trained medical personnel. The
  name given to this nonmedical provider of
  far-forward emergency care is the combat
  lifesaver.
• Remember, as a combat lifesaver, your primary
  function is to accomplish your combat mission.
  You are to provide emergency care as a secondary
  mission when your primary mission allows. You may
  also be asked to assist the combat medic in
  providing care and preparing casualties for
  evacuation when you have no combat duties to
  perform.

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IDENTIFY THE PURPOSE OF THE COMBATLIFESAVER

• Normally, each squad, team, crew, or
  equivalent-sized unit will have at least one
  member trained to function as a combat lifesaver.

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IDENTIFY TASKS PERFORMED BY THECOMBAT LIFESAVER

• Combat lifesaver training is a bridge between
  the self-aid/buddy-aid training given all
  soldiers during basic training and the medical
  training given to the combat medic.

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IDENTIFY TASKS PERFORMED BY THECOMBAT LIFESAVER

• In addition to being proficient in all
  self-aid/buddy-aid tasks, the combat lifesaver
  performs the following tasks
• Initiate an intravenous infusion.
• Measure and monitor a casualty's pulse.
• Measure and monitor a casualty's respirations.
• Apply a SAM splint to a fractured limb.
• Insert an oropharyngeal airway in an unconscious
  casualty.
• Manage battle fatigue.

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IDENTIFY TASKS PERFORMED BY THECOMBAT LIFESAVER

• CLS tasks (cont)
• Identify and treat cold injuries in addition to
  frostbite.
• Administer first aid to blister, choking, and
  blood agent casualties and provide additional
  treatment to nerve agent casualties.
• Administer over-the-counter pain killers (such as
  Tylenol) and antihistamine tablets (such as
  Sudafed).
• Transport a casualty using various litter
  carries.
• Load casualties onto military vehicles.

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IDENTIFY MEDICAL SUPPLIES CARRIED BYTHE COMBAT
LIFESAVER

• The combat lifesaver carries a small aid bag
  containing his medical supplies. The aid bag
  weighs a little over nine pounds and takes up
  about 0.44 cubic feet. The aid bag consists of
  the following items

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IDENTIFY MEDICAL SUPPLIES CARRIED BYTHE COMBAT
LIFESAVER

• Two bottles containing 50 acetaminophen tablets
  (such as Tylenol). Administered for headache,
  common cold, and minor pain.
• One roll of adhesive tape. Used to secure the
  I.V. catheter and tubing to the casualty's arm.
• Two rubber artificial airways. Used to keep the
  airway of an unconscious casualty open.
• Five atropine autoinjectors. Used to administer
  additional antidote to nerve agent casualties.

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IDENTIFY MEDICAL SUPPLIES CARRIED BYTHE COMBAT
LIFESAVER

• Eighteen self-adhesive bandages with attached
  sterile pad. Used to protect minor wounds.
• What is usually called an "ace" bandage is a
  gauze elastic kling bandage. While the combat
  lifesaver does not bandage sprains, this bandage
  can be useful as a reinforcement bandage and as
  padding for a splint.
• Four muslin bandages. Used to secure splints and
  used as tourniquet bands, slings, and swathes.

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IDENTIFY MEDICAL SUPPLIES CARRIED BYTHE COMBAT
LIFESAVER

• Nylon case. Used to carry the medical supplies.
  The case has three zippered compartments for
  storing supplies and a shoulder strap.
• Two catheter and needle units. Used in
  administering intravenous infusion.
• Five CANA autoinjectors. Used to alleviate
  convulsions in nerve agent casualties.
• Six field first-aid dressings. Used to control
  bleeding and protect wounds.

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IDENTIFY MEDICAL SUPPLIES CARRIED BYTHE COMBAT
LIFESAVER

• Three pairs of rubber sterile patient examining
  gloves. Used when initiating I.V.s for the
  protection of both casualty and combat lifesaver.
• Two intravenous injection sets. Connects the I.V.
  bag to the needle and catheter unit. The clamp
  controls the rate at which the fluid flows from
  the bag.
• Six packets of povidone-iodine impregnated cotton
  pads. Used to cleanse skin, especially before
  performing the I.V. puncture.

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IDENTIFY MEDICAL SUPPLIES CARRIED BYTHE COMBAT
LIFESAVER

• Eight packets of povidone-iodine ointment. Used
  to protect minor wounds from infection.
• One bottle containing 24 pseudoephedrine
  hydrochloride tablets (such as Sudafed).
  Administered for allergies.
• Two I.V. bags. Each bag contains slightly more
  than a pint of sterile fluid to be administered
  intravenously to avoid hypovolemic shock.

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IDENTIFY MEDICAL SUPPLIES CARRIED BYTHE COMBAT
LIFESAVER

• One pair of scissors. Used to cut the casualty's
  clothing to expose wounds, cut muslin bandages
  into triangular bandages, and cut tape.
• One SAM splint. Used in splinting fractured
  limbs.
• Fourteen inches of rubber tourniquet (flat). Used
  as a constricting band when performing the I.V.
  task.

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OVERVIEW of CLS TASKS and EQUIPMENT

• CLOSING
• Remember, the combat lifesaver performs
  emergency care as a secondary mission only when
  his primary combat mission allows. This lesson
  is tested in the written multiple-choice
  examination.

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Questions