When under effective fire, the most important lifesaver is to suppress enemy fire and take cover. What matters most here is self-aid and “buddy care” by the soldiers themselves, who are equipped with basic first aid training and a personal medical kit. The focus is on the fundamentals: stop massive bleeding, clear the airways and keep the wounded warm.
The aim for lifesaving care during combat is often referred to as 10, 1, 2, meaning the injured should receive buddy care from their comrade-in-arms in ten minutes, see a clinician in one hour and reach surgery in two hours.
To support this, lightweight, modular, and highly mobile solutions like Saab’s Deployable Health Care Solutions have become increasingly vital for allowing clinicians to provide emergency medical care close to the point of injury. The design focuses on delivering appropriate damage control care as quickly as possible. These medical treatment facilities are compatible with all platforms, modular and scalable and can be soft or hard shelters which are transportable by road, rail, or air.