Medical planning--casualty treatment times at first and second line.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the average time taken to treat a seriously wounded battle casualty at First and Second Line (Role 1 and Role 2) according to the British Army Casualty Treatment Regimes under simulated conditions, and, in doing so, to assess whether British medical facilities are capable of meeting the medical planning directives of the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC).


METHODS
A casualty evacuation exercise, using standard ARRC medical planning data, deploying the war establishment of personnel and equipment of an armoured Battle Group Regimental Aid Post (RAP) and an armoured Field Ambulance.


METHODS
200 simulated casualties, using 120 healthy soldiers dressed in expendable clothing and carrying a description of their injuries and clinical status.


METHODS
The time taken to treat simulated seriously wounded casualties at Role 1, the RAP and at Role 2, the Field Ambulance Dressing Station (DS).


RESULTS
The mean treatment time at Role 1 was 28 minutes and at Role 2 was 17 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the (large) caveat of simulation, as presently configured, the Field Ambulance (DS) is well able to cope with the casualty load expected of it by ARRC medical planners but the RAP of the armoured Battle Group is not.
Lynch
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Griffin
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Terrell
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Pealin
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D000552:Ambulances; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*