Journal Of Special Operations Medicine

The Advanced Tactical Paramedic Protocols Handbook (ATP-P) 10th Edition -Print

The Journal of Special Operations Medicine (JSOM) is an authorized official military quarterly publication of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. The JSOM is not a publication of the Special Operations Medical Association (SOMA). Our mission is to promote the professional development of Special Operations medical personnel by providing a forum for the examination of the latest advancements in medicine and the history of unconventional warfare medicine.

Historically in warfare, the majority of all combat deaths have occurred prior to a casualty ever receiving advanced trauma management. The execution of the Ranger mission profile in the Global War on Terrorism and our legacy tasks undoubtedly will increase the number of lethal wounds. Ranger leaders can significantly reduce the number of Rangers who die of wounds sustained in combat by simply targeting optimal medical capability in close proximity to the point of wounding. Directing casualty response management and evacuation is a Ranger leader task; ensuring technical medical competence is a Ranger Medic task. A solid foundation has been built for Ranger leaders and medics to be successful in managing casualties in a combat environment. The true success of the Ranger Medical Team will be defined by its ability to complete the mission and greatly reduce preventable combat death. Rangers value honor and reputation more than their lives, and as such will attempt to lay down their own lives in defense of their comrades. The Ranger Medic will do no less.

The Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook is a comprehensive reference designed for combat and special forces medics in the field, it is also a must-have reference for any military or emergency response medical personnel, particularly in hostile environments. Developed as a primary medical information resource and field guide for the Special Operations Command (SOCOM). As a grid-down medical reference for the doomsday prepper it can't be beaten. Defines the standard of health care delivery under adverse and general field conditions. Organized according to symptoms, organ systems, specialty areas, operational environments and procedures. Emphasizes acute care in all its forms (including gynecology, general medicine, dentistry, poisonings, infestations, parasitic infections, acute infections, hyper- and hypothermia, high altitude, aerospace, dive medicine, and sanitation.). DO NO HARM, DO KNOW HARM The following medical texts should be in the preps of every serious off-grid survivor: Ranger Medic Handbook Special Operations Medical Handbook STP 31-18D34-SM-TG A MOS 18D Special Forces Medical Sergeant PART A: Skill Levels 3 and 4 STP 31-18D34-SM-TG B MOS 18D Special Forces Medical Sergeant PART B: Skill Levels 3 and 4

This handbook was previously distributed as a supplement to the Journal of Special Operations Medicine. The realm of special operations forces (SOF) medicine is a unique and ever-changing one that demands specialized training for our joint SOF. Managing trauma on today’s battlefield presents a dynamic array of challenges where limited resources can be rapidly overwhelmed. An austere environment, hostile gunfire, and delays in casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) are the norms for the special operations medic. The material in this handbook was gleaned from special operations medics operating in the Global War on Terrorism and other operational environments. It should not be viewed as a substitute for the professional training and judgment of special operations medics; rather, it is designed to be a hip-pocket reference on the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) of SOF-relevant tactical combat casualty care. Key Lessons Ninety percent of combat loss of life occurs before casualties ever reach a military treatment facility (MTF); treatment prior to casualty evacuation is vital. Litter carries are fundamental for good patient care; they prevent further injury and get individuals off target as soon as possible. Rehearse manual carry methods prior to deployment. Every special operations warfighter should carry a tourniquet and be thoroughly familiar with its application. When managing multiple casualties, apply the principles of triage in classifying the priority of treatment and evacuation. Rehearse and employ all of the mechanics of CASEVAC from the point of injury to the handover at a MTF. This handbook provides a number of considerations when employing medical support to SOF in combat. The challenges are numerous, but the special operations medic must deliver medical care to save Soldiers’ lives. The collection of TTP in this handbook will enhance the medic’s ability to determine the optimum method to deliver casualty survival assistance.

Advances in trauma care have accelerated over the past decade, spurred by the significant burden of injury from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Between 2005 and 2013, the case fatality rate for United States service members injured in Afghanistan decreased by nearly 50 percent, despite an increase in the severity of injury among U.S. troops during the same period of time. But as the war in Afghanistan ends, knowledge and advances in trauma care developed by the Department of Defense (DoD) over the past decade from experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq may be lost. This would have implications for the quality of trauma care both within the DoD and in the civilian setting, where adoption of military advances in trauma care has become increasingly common and necessary to improve the response to multiple civilian casualty events. Intentional steps to codify and harvest the lessons learned within the military's trauma system are needed to ensure a ready military medical force for future combat and to prevent death from survivable injuries in both military and civilian systems. This will require partnership across military and civilian sectors and a sustained commitment from trauma system leaders at all levels to assure that the necessary knowledge and tools are not lost. A National Trauma Care System defines the components of a learning health system necessary to enable continued improvement in trauma care in both the civilian and the military sectors. This report provides recommendations to ensure that lessons learned over the past decade from the military's experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq are sustained and built upon for future combat operations and translated into the U.S. civilian system.