In a Care Under Fire scenario, what should you do first to maximize casualty survival?

In a Care Under Fire scenario, what should you do first to maximize casualty survival?

• A. Return fire or move to cover first, then control life-threatening bleeding if tactically feasible.
• B. Treat all injuries before establishing fire discipline.
• C. Wait for commands from a commander before acting.
• D. Proceed to evacuate the casualty without securing cover.

Answer: (A)

In Care Under Fire, the priority is to protect yourself and gain the upper hand against the threat, because your ability to help the casualty depends on being alive and able to operate. The first action is to either return fire or move to cover to reduce exposure and create a safer situation. Once you’ve established protection, you can address life-threatening bleeding if you can do so without compromising safety—this might mean quick bleeding control that doesn’t pull you from a covered position or expose you to further danger. Promptly delaying safety to start treatment or evacuating without securing cover increases risk for both you and the casualty. So, first secure safety and suppress the threat, then treat bleeding if it’s feasible without losing that safety.

In Care Under Fire, the priority is to protect yourself and gain the upper hand against the threat, because your ability to help the casualty depends on being alive and able to operate. The first action is to either return fire or move to cover to reduce exposure and create a safer situation. Once you’ve established protection, you can address life-threatening bleeding if you can do so without compromising safety—this might mean quick bleeding control that doesn’t pull you from a covered position or expose you to further danger. Promptly delaying safety to start treatment or evacuating without securing cover increases risk for both you and the casualty. So, first secure safety and suppress the threat, then treat bleeding if it’s feasible without losing that safety.