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Analyzing the role of combat medics in rescue operations and transporting of injured individuals during a crisis
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Fatemeh Ghavidel    , Maryam Shabany * |
| Department of Community Health and Research, Faculty of Nursing, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , m.shabani@ajaums.ac.ir |
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| Keywords: Combat Medics, Relief Works, Care Transitions, Disasters |
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Full-Text [PDF 1124 kb]
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| Abstract (HTML) (502 Views)
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Type of Study: Letter to Editor |
Subject:
Disaster Medicine
Received: 2024/04/15 | Revised: 2025/03/12 | Accepted: 2024/11/14 | Published: 2024/12/21
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Extended Abstract: (256 Views) |
The relief and transport chain in Iran comprises various facilities, including field emergency units, convalescent homes, hospitals, and other relief centers. These play a crucial role from the moment of injury until the resolution of health issues and the treatment of the injured. The Combat Medical Organization, which emerged during the Iran-Iraq War, addresses health and medical needs. During this conflict, combat medical activities included the treatment of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as common injuries sustained by fighters in clinics, emergency rooms, and field hospitals. A significant portion of the armed forces' relief efforts occurred in hospitals and field clinics, where combat medics played a vital role in transporting patients from the injury site to the operating room. In addition to medical services, they provided essential facilities and equipment [1, 2].
Overall, combat medical care is a flexible organization that adapts well to environmental changes, although it requires training. Its mission is to deliver medical services at any time and in any location. Due to the multiple layers of relief and transportation, each with distinct operational levels and responsibilities, the wounded must be transported to higher-capacity medical centers as quickly as possible. During the war, transportation of the injured occurred via land, air, and sea, depending on available resources, regional geography, operational tactics, enemy threats, and physical conditions [3, 4]. For instance, when hospital units in Khuzestan Province faced a shortage of medical staff, a combat medical center was quickly established within the military forces to create both an emergency room and an aid post in operational areas. Volunteers, nurses, medical technicians, and other medical personnel stationed in nearby cities were organized into these medical centers. The medical service centers contained several departments, including medical facilities located behind defense lines, which functioned similarly to city hospitals. Field hospitals were set up at the front lines, followed by emergency units and aid posts positioned closest to the combat zone [3].
Another critical aspect of combat healthcare is its economic and health dimension, which helps preserve human capital. Timely relief and services for the wounded, along with the transfer of field hospitals to the front lines, significantly reduced the mortality rate of the injured by 40 to 50% [2].
Combat healthcare also plays essential roles during natural disasters, preventing infectious diseases in times of crisis, and planning for future threats. The extensive involvement of the armed forces, along with robust logistical and engineering resources and a wide range of human capital, greatly contributed to managing the largest flood in contemporary Iranian history. This coordination substantially reduced loss of life and destruction, providing vital relief and medical services to those affected by this natural disaster. Moreover, endemic diseases such as malaria, leishmaniasis, tuberculosis, and schistosomiasis posed major threats during the war, alongside risks from cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, amebiasis, giardiasis, polio, and influenza. The health measures implemented by health authorities and combat medical services effectively prevented outbreaks of these epidemics [5].
As previously mentioned, the role of combat medical services is sensitive and precise, necessitating careful preparation and provision of necessary facilities. Future conflicts will inevitably require a robust rescue network within the health and medical sectors. Given the current global climate, marked by an increase in wars, terrorism, and natural disasters, as well as evolving war strategies and weaponry, military medicine and combat medical services must be adequately prepared. This preparation involves adapting human resources, equipment, organization, and training to meet the demands of future conflicts, ensuring the effective execution of assigned medical and military missions. Strengthening the combat medical management system during peacetime is essential for optimal performance during wartime [6].
It is also important to note that combat strategies are inherently linked to military strategies. To effectively plan for relief, transportation, or any preparation for combat medical care, it is crucial to identify the nature of potential enemy threats and take necessary measures to enhance the performance of combat medical services during an attack.
Funding
There is no funding support.
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work.
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the persons for scientific consulting in this paper.
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| References |
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