Ground Vehicle Evacuation Ground evac typically took too long in Afghanistan. More prevalent in urban-centric operations in Also, military vehicles are not designed for comfort. There is usually close proximity to a medical facility significant noise and vibration in cargo areas, and overland movement Vehicles may be organic to the unit or generally provides for an extremely rough ride, which may be hard on designated MEDEVAC assets the casualty. The Tactical Evacuation phase may present the first opportunity within the tactical operation to bring additional medical equipment and personnel to bear. Tactical Evacuation Care TCCC guidelines for care are largely the Additional medical personnel should arrive with the evacuation asset. same in TACEVAC as they are in Tactical This is important because: Field Care. -The unit’s medic or corpsman may be among its casualties There are some changes that reflect the -The unit’s medic or corpsman may be dehydrated, hypothermic, or additional medical equipment and personnel otherwise debilitated that may be present in the TEC setting. -The unit’s medic or corpsman may need to continue on the unit’s This section will focus on those differences. mission and not get on the evacuation platform -There may not have been a medic or corpsman at the casualty scene The Nasopharyngeal Airway adjunct was described in the Tactical Field Care section. Once a casualty has been secured aboard an evacuation platform, a wider variety of more definitive airway adjuncts and personnel trained to use them may be available, although Airway in TACEVAC the NPA should suffice for most patients. Additional Options for Airway Management • Supraglottic airway A number of supraglottic airways can be used in the Tactical Endotracheal Intubation Evacuation setting. They are easier and faster to insert than an ET Confirm ETT placement with CO2 tube, are less likely to harm the casualty if not correctly placed, and monitoring require less training and experience to use successfully. Endotracheal These airways are advanced skills not intubation, though, may still be a better airway option for certain taught in the TCCC course patients. Don’t attempt advanced airways unless you have been trained on them and are proficient in their use.
Ground Vehicle Evacuation More prevalent in urban-centric operations in close proximity to a medical facility Vehicles may be organic to the unit or designated MEDEVAC assets Ground evac typically took too long in Afghanistan. Also, military vehicles are not designed for comfort. There is usually significant noise and vibration in cargo areas, and overland movement generally provides for an extremely rough ride, which may be hard on the casualty. Tactical Evacuation Care TCCC guidelines for care are largely the same in TACEVAC as they are in Tactical Field Care. There are some changes that reflect the additional medical equipment and personnel that may be present in the TEC setting. This section will focus on those differences. The Tactical Evacuation phase may present the first opportunity within the tactical operation to bring additional medical equipment and personnel to bear. Additional medical personnel should arrive with the evacuation asset. This is important because: -The unit’s medic or corpsman may be among its casualties -The unit’s medic or corpsman may be dehydrated, hypothermic, or otherwise debilitated -The unit’s medic or corpsman may need to continue on the unit’s mission and not get on the evacuation platform -There may not have been a medic or corpsman at the casualty scene Airway in TACEVAC • Additional Options for Airway Management Supraglottic airway Endotracheal Intubation Confirm ETT placement with CO2 monitoring These airways are advanced skills not taught in the TCCC course The Nasopharyngeal Airway adjunct was described in the Tactical Field Care section. Once a casualty has been secured aboard an evacuation platform, a wider variety of more definitive airway adjuncts and personnel trained to use them may be available, although the NPA should suffice for most patients. A number of supraglottic airways can be used in the Tactical Evacuation setting. They are easier and faster to insert than an ET tube, are less likely to harm the casualty if not correctly placed, and require less training and experience to use successfully. Endotracheal intubation, though, may still be a better airway option for certain patients. Don’t attempt advanced airways unless you have been trained on them and are proficient in their use.