Originally posted by the British Army
The British Army has introduced a new, enhanced Combat Life Savers (CLS) position to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex modern battlefield.
The new medical role will bridge the gap between the basic first aid training provided to all soldiers and the specialist skills of combat medics. It will replace the Team Medic role.
Combat Life Savers will be trained to NATO standards, improving consistency in medical treatment when working alongside allied forces. The enhanced role will enable non-medical soldiers to deliver more advanced care, including procedures previously restricted to specialist combat medics.
The key advancement is that a CLS non-vocational medic will be able to perform a needle decompression of the chest, a procedure previously only carried out by combat medics. This technique relieves air build-up in the chest from penetrating injuries, allowing the heart and lungs to function more effectively.
The Combat Life Saver will also adopt the ‘MARCH’ protocol (Massive haemorrhage, Airway, Respiration, Circulation, Hypothermia/Head injury), replacing the previous CABC (Catastrophic Haemorrhage, Airway, Breathing, Circulation) approach.
The new training course for this role is five days long, doubling the length of the previous team medic training. This extended programme covers treatment from point of injury through to evacuation. It includes treatment skills in head injuries, hypothermia treatment, pain management, splinting, applying tourniquets and calling in a medical evacuation.
To read more, please click here.
