Tactical Combat Casualty Care Flashcards

A casualty is unconscious and vomiting. What is the TCCC recommended positioning?

Answer: Recovery (lateral) position

The recovery (lateral) position protects the airway and reduces aspiration risk in unconscious casualties who are vomiting.

Under TCCC guidelines, when should CPR be performed on a battlefield casualty?

Answer: Only when the cause is non-traumatic (e.g., cardiac arrhythmia) and resources permit

TCCC recommends CPR only for non-traumatic causes of cardiac arrest when resources and tactical situation permit, as traumatic arrest has very poor outcomes.

What does 'permissive hypotension' mean in TCCC fluid resuscitation?

Answer: Allowing systolic BP of 80-90 mmHg to reduce ongoing hemorrhage until surgical control

Permissive hypotension targets a systolic BP of 80-90 mmHg to maintain perfusion while limiting fluid-driven coagulopathy before surgical hemorrhage control.

Tranexamic acid (TXA) must be given within what timeframe of injury for maximum benefit in TCCC?

Answer: Within 3 hours

TXA must be administered within 3 hours of injury; after this window it may actually increase mortality.

A TCCC casualty card (DD Form 1380) must be completed for every casualty. What information is NOT required on this card?

Answer: Casualty's home address

The DD Form 1380 captures tactical medical data (interventions, vitals, mechanism) but does not require personal information like home address.

In the context of TCCC, what is 'Care Under Fire' primarily focused on?

Answer: Stopping life-threatening hemorrhage and returning fire

Care Under Fire focuses on suppressing the enemy and using a tourniquet to control massive extremity hemorrhage — advanced care is deferred until safe.

Which hemostatic dressing is currently preferred by TCCC guidelines for wound packing?

Answer: Combat Gauze (kaolin-impregnated gauze)

Combat Gauze (QuikClot Combat Gauze) impregnated with kaolin is the TCCC-recommended hemostatic dressing for wound packing.