COURSE SUMMARY
ANNEX: B
COURSE: MEDICAL
PHASE: 1 VER: C
PREPARATION DATE: 2012/01/31
COURSE TITLE: TREAT UNIT CASUALTIES
REFERENCES: ANA-STP-8-86C-E4-5-SM-TG / (U.S. DOCTRINE STP 8-68W13-SM-TG)
ACADEMIC TITLE
PROVIDE BASIC EMERGENCY TREATMENT FOR
A PAINFUL, SWOLLEN, DEFORMED EXTREMITY
HOURS
081-86A-0154
Terminal Learning Objective:
Understand how correctly immobilize an injured extremity.
Enabling Learning Objectives:
1. Soldier identifies signs and symptoms associated with musculoskeletal injuries.
2. Soldier performs neurovascular checks (PMS- Pulse, Motor, and Sensation).
3. Soldier will differentiate and treat open from closed fractures and splints the fracture
accordingly.
4. Soldier understands how to treat the casualty for shock.
5. Soldier understands how to record the care provided on the appropriate form.
6. Soldier understands how to evacuate the casualty.
7. Soldier understands how to prevent further injury to the casualty
4 HRS
PROVIDE BASIC EMERGENCY TREATMENT FOR
A PAINFUL, SWOLLEN, DEFORMED EXTREMITY
081-86A-0154
Conditions: You have encountered a casualty who presents with a musculoskeletal injury. All
other more serious injuries have been assessed and treated. You will need cravats, dressings,
splinting materials, and an ANA Form 1380 (Field Medical Card).
Standards: Immobilize the injured extremity without causing further injury to the casualty.
Performance Steps
CAUTION: All body fluids should be considered potentially infectious. Always observe body
substance isolation (BSI) precautions by wearing gloves and eye protection as a minimal
standard of protection.
1. Identify the signs and symptoms of a musculoskeletal injury.
a. Pain and tenderness, especially when the injured part is touched or moved.
b. Deformity or angulation.
NOTE: When in doubt, look at the uninjured side and compare it to the injured one.
c. Crepitus.
d. Edema (swelling).
e. Ecchymosis (bruising).
f. Exposed bone.
g. Joints locked into position.
h. Impaired circulation, motor function, and sensation.
2. Splint the extremity.
NOTES: 1. In order for any splint to be effective, it must immobilize the adjacent joints and bone
ends. 2. If the casualty is unstable, immobilize on a long spine board and transport immediately.
a. Assess pulse, motor function, and sensation (PMS).
(1) Check for a pulse distal to the injury.
(2) Ask if the casualty can feel your touch distal to the injury.
(3) Ask the casualty to wiggle his fingers or toes, grasp your fingers, or push his feet
against your hands.
NOTE: If the fracture is open, apply a dressing to control bleeding and to protect the area.
b. Manually stabilize the injury site. This can be done by you, your assistant, or the casualty.
NOTE: Maintain manual stabilization or traction during positioning and until the splinting
process is complete.
c. Attempt to realign an angulated fracture once, if necessary.
NOTE: Attempt to realign only if there is impaired circulation (loss of distal pulses, cold to the
touch) or the extremity is so grossly angulated that splinting would not be effective.
(1) Gently grasp the distal extremity while your assistant places one hand above and one
hand below the injury site.
(2) Gently pull manual traction in the direction of the long axis of the bone.
(3) If resistance is felt or it appears the bone ends will come through the skin, stop and
splint the extremity in the position found. Evacuate the casualty as soon as possible.
(4) If no resistance is felt, maintain gentle traction until the extremity is properly splinted.
d. Measure or adjust the splint. Apply padding.
e. Apply and secure the splint to immobilize adjacent bones.
f. Splint the extremity in the position of function.
g. Reassess PMS distal to the injury.
3. Treat for shock.
4. Document all care given on the FMC.
5. Transport to the nearest medical treatment facility.
Evaluation Preparation:
Setup: For training and evaluation, have one Soldier act as a casualty with a musculoskeletal
injury. Brief the casualty on the location and complaints of a musculoskeletal injury. Use
moulage if available. Tell the casualty not to assist the Soldier in any way.
Brief Soldier: Ask the Soldier for the signs and symptoms of a musculoskeletal injury and have
him perform the appropriate treatment.
Performance Measures
1. Identified the signs and symptoms of a musculoskeletal injury.
2. Splinted the extremity.
3. Treated for shock.
4. Considered administration of pain medication.
5. Documented care given on the FMC.
6. Transported to the nearest medical treatment facility.
PASS
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FAIL
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Evaluation Guidance: Score each Soldier according to the performance measures. Unless
otherwise stated in the task summary, the Soldier must pass all performance measures to be
scored PASS. If the Soldier fails any steps, show what was done wrong and how to do it
correctly.