First Aid for Soldiers FM 21-11
FM 21-11 First Aid for
Soldiers
Preface
Headquarters, Department of the
Army, Washington, D.C., October 27, 1988
This manual meets the emergency medical
training needs of individual soldiers. Because medical personnel will not always
be readily available, the nonmedical soldiers will have to rely heavily on their
own skills and knowledge of life-sustaining methods to survive on the integrated
battlefield. This manual also addresses first aid measures for other
life-threatening situations. It outlines both self-treatment (self-aid) and aid
to other soldiers (buddy aid). More importantly, this manual emphasizes prompt
and effective action in sustaining life and preventing or minimizing further
suffering. First aid is the emergency care given to the sick, injured, or
wounded before being treated by medical personnel. The Army Dictionary defines
first aid as "urgent and immediate lifesaving and other measures which can be
performed for casualties by nonmedical personnel when medical personnel are not
immediately available." Nonmedical soldiers have received basic first aid
training and should remain skilled in the correct procedures for giving first
aid. Mastery of first aid procedures is also part of a group study training
program entitled the Combat Lifesaver (DA Pam 351-20). A combat lifesaver is a
nonmedical soldier who has been trained to provide emergency care. This includes
administering intravenous infusions to casualties as his combat mission permits.
Normally, each squad, team, or crew will have one member who is a combat
lifesaver. This manual is directed to all soldiers. The procedures
discussed apply to all types of casualties and the measures described are for
use by both male and female soldiers.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitative (CPR)
procedures were deleted from this manual. These procedures are not recognized as
essential battlefield skills that all soldiers should be able to perform.
Management and treatment of casualties on the battlefield has demonstrated that
incidences of cardiac arrest are usually secondary to other injuries requiring
immediate first aid. Other first aid procedures, such as controlling hemorrhage
are far more critical and must be performed well to save lives. Learning and
maintaining CPR skills is time and resource intensive. CPR has very little
practical application to battlefield first aid and is not listed as a common
task for soldiers. The Academy of Health Sciences, US Army refers to the
American Heart Association for the CPR standard. If a nonmedical soldier desires
to learn CPR, he may contact his supporting medical treatment facility for the
appropriate information. All medical personnel, however, must maintain
proficiency in CPR and may be available to help soldiers master the skill. The
US Army's official reference for CPR is FM 8-230.
This manual has been designed to
provide a ready reference for the individual soldier on first aid. Only the
information necessary to support and sustain proficiency in first aid has been
boxed and the task number has been listed. In addition, these first aid
tasks for Skill Level 1 have been listed in
Appendix G. The task number, title, and specific paragraph of the
appropriate information is provided in the event a cross-reference is desired.
Acknowledgement
Grateful acknowledgement is made to the
American Heart Association for their permission to use the copyrighted
material.
Commercial
Products
Commercial products (trade names or
trademarks) mentioned in this publication are to provide descriptive information
and for illustrative purposes only. Their use does not imply endorsement by the
Department of Defense.
Standardization Agreements
The provisions of this publication are
the subject of international agreement(s):
2122 Medical Training in First Aid,
Basic Hygiene and Emergency Care
2126 First Aid Kits and Emergency
Medical Care Kits
2358 Medical First Aid and Hygiene
Training In NBC Operations
2871 First Aid Material for Chemical
Injuries
Neutral
Language
Unless this publication states
otherwise, masculine nouns and pronouns do not refer exclusively to men.
Appendixes
Appendix A is a listing of the contents of the First
Aid Case and Kits.
Appendix B discusses some casualty transportation
procedures. Much is dependent upon the manner in which a casualty is rescued and
transported.
Appendix C outlines some basic principles that promote
good health. The health of the individual soldier is an important factor in
conserving the fighting strength. History has often demonstrated that the course
of the battle is influenced more by the health of the soldier than by strategy
or tactics.
Appendix E discusses application of digital pressure
and illustrates pressure points.
Appendix F discusses specific information on
decontamination procedures.
Appendix G is a listing of Skill Level 1 common tasks.
Proponent
Statement
The proponent of this publication is
the Academy of Health Sciences, US Army Submit changes for improving this
publication on DA Form 2028 directly to Commandant, Academy of Health Sciences,
US Army, ATTN: HSHA-CD, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-6100.
*DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION:
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