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Medical Evacuation

CASEVAC and MEDEVAC procedures and protocols for tactical medical evacuation

Evacuation Types

Different evacuation methods based on tactical situation, casualty condition, and available resources.

CASEVAC (Casualty Evacuation)

Tactical
Immediate to 30 minutes

Rapid evacuation using available tactical vehicles

Priority:Speed over medical care

Available Platforms

Ground vehicles
Tactical trucks
Armored vehicles
Available aircraft

Capabilities

  • 1Rapid extraction from point of injury
  • 2Basic life support during transport
  • 3Crew-served medical equipment
  • 4Communication with receiving facility
  • 5Load and go mentality

Procedures

  • Request immediate evacuation
  • Prepare casualty for movement
  • Establish communication with evacuation asset
  • Provide tactical landing zone security
  • Brief evacuation crew on casualties

Limitations

  • Limited medical equipment
  • Non-medical personnel
  • Basic life support only
  • Environmental constraints
  • Security considerations

Indications

  • Immediate life-threatening injuries
  • Hostile environment requiring rapid extraction
  • MEDEVAC not immediately available
  • Tactical situation priority
  • Mass casualty overwhelm

9-Line MEDEVAC Request

Standard format for medical evacuation requests

1
Line 1
Location of pick-up site
Grid coordinates using standard military grid system
Example: NK123456
2
Line 2
Radio frequency, call sign, and suffix
3
Line 3
Number of patients by precedence
4
Line 4
Special equipment required
5
Line 5
Number of patients by type
6
Line 6
Security at pick-up site
7
Line 7
Method of marking pick-up site
8
Line 8
Patient nationality and status
9
Line 9
NBC contamination

Landing Zone (LZ) Requirements

Size Requirements:

Helicopter: 100x100 feet minimum, Fixed-wing: 3000+ feet runway

Obstacles:

Clear of wires, poles, trees. 15-degree approach/departure angles.

Surface Conditions:

Firm, level ground. Minimize dust and debris.

Marking:

Inverted "Y" with long axis into the wind. Use panels, smoke, or lights.

Security:

360-degree security during landing and takeoff operations.

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