Lesson 16 OVERVIEW of CLS TASKS and EQUIPMENT

7/29/2019 Lesson 16 OVERVIEW of CLS TASKS and EQUIPMENT

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Combat Life Saver

Lesson 16

OVERVIEW of CLS TASKS

and EQUIPMENT


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Lesson 16


and EQUIPMENT

INTRODUCTION

You have already been tested on your ability to

perform the buddy-aid tasks which every soldier isexpected 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 anintravenous infusion will help to control shock caused

by blood loss, severe burns, or severe heat injury.


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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 writtenexamination.


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IDENTIFY THE PURPOSE OF THE COMBAT

LIFESAVER

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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LIFESAVER

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 isthe combat lifesaver.

Remember, as a combat lifesaver, your primary

function is to accomplish your combat mission. You

are to provide emergency care as a secondarymission 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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LIFESAVER

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 THE

COMBAT 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 thecombat medic.


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COMBAT 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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COMBAT 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 BY

THE 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 0.44cubic feet. The aid bag consists of the following

items:


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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 administeradditional antidote to nerve agent casualties.


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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 lifesaverdoes 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 andused as tourniquet bands, slings, and swathes.


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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 administeringintravenous infusion.

Five CANA autoinjectors. Used to alleviate

convulsions in nerve agent casualties.

Six field first-aid dressings. Used to control bleedingand protect wounds.


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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. bagto 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 beforeperforming the I.V. puncture.


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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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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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and EQUIPMENT

CLOSING

Remember, the combat lifesaver performs

emergency care as a secondary mission only whenhis primary combat mission allows. This lesson is

tested in the written multiple-choice examination.


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Questions

Documents

Lesson 16 OVERVIEW of CLS TASKS and EQUIPMENT