Combat Life Saver
Lesson 16
OVERVIEW of CLS TASKS
and EQUIPMENT
Compiled and edited by,
2LT John C. Miller, PA-C
Lesson 16
OVERVIEW of CLS TASKS
and EQUIPMENT
INTRODUCTION
You have already been tested on your ability to
perform the buddy-aid tasks which every soldier is
expected to know and perform. The tasks you will
now learn are tasks normally performed by the 91B
combat medic. The most important task you will learn
is to initiate an intravenous infusion. Initiating an
intravenous infusion will help to control shock caused
by blood loss, severe burns, or severe heat injury.
OVERVIEW of CLS TASKS
and EQUIPMENT



TASK
Identify the functions of the combat lifesaver and the
contents of the combat lifesaver aid bag.
CONDITIONS
Given written items pertaining to the role of the
combat lifesaver and to the combat lifesaver aid bag.
STANDARD
Score 70 or more points on the 100-point written
examination.
IDENTIFY THE PURPOSE OF THE COMBAT
LIFESAVER



The Army doctrine was developed to be used on a
battlefield in which combat elements are widely
dispersed. This will create a problem for the Army
Medical Department as well as the rest of the Army.
Since the combat elements will be spread out and
constantly on the move, it will be difficult for medical
personnel such as the combat medic to quickly reach
battlefield casualties.
Part of the doctrine calls for regular, nonmedical
soldiers to be given training in providing additional
emergency care to wounded soldiers.
IDENTIFY THE PURPOSE OF THE COMBAT
LIFESAVER


This care will help a wounded soldier to survive those
first few crucial minutes after he is wounded and help
stabilize the soldier until he can be treated by trained
medical personnel. The name given to this
nonmedical provider of far-forward emergency care is
the combat lifesaver.
Remember, as a combat lifesaver, your primary
function is to accomplish your combat mission. You
are to provide emergency care as a secondary
mission when your primary mission allows. You may
also be asked to assist the combat medic in providing
care and preparing casualties for evacuation when
you have no combat duties to perform.
IDENTIFY THE PURPOSE OF THE COMBAT
LIFESAVER

Normally, each squad, team, crew, or equivalentsized unit will have at least one member trained to
function as a combat lifesaver.
IDENTIFY TASKS PERFORMED BY THE
COMBAT LIFESAVER
Combat lifesaver training is a bridge between the
self-aid/buddy-aid training given all soldiers during
basic training and the medical training given to the
combat medic.
IDENTIFY TASKS PERFORMED BY THE
COMBAT LIFESAVER

In addition to being proficient in all self-aid/buddy-aid
tasks, the combat lifesaver performs the following
tasks:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Initiate an intravenous infusion.
Measure and monitor a casualty's pulse.
Measure and monitor a casualty's respirations.
Apply a SAM splint to a fractured limb.
Insert an oropharyngeal airway in an unconscious casualty.
Manage battle fatigue.
IDENTIFY TASKS PERFORMED BY THE
COMBAT LIFESAVER

CLS tasks (cont):
–
–
–
–
–
Identify and treat cold injuries in addition to frostbite.
Administer first aid to blister, choking, and blood agent
casualties and provide additional treatment to nerve agent
casualties.
Administer over-the-counter pain killers (such as Tylenol®)
and antihistamine tablets (such as Sudafed®).
Transport a casualty using various litter carries.
Load casualties onto military vehicles.
IDENTIFY MEDICAL SUPPLIES CARRIED BY
THE COMBAT LIFESAVER
The combat lifesaver carries a small aid bag
containing his medical supplies. The aid bag weighs
a little over nine pounds and takes up about 0.44
cubic feet. The aid bag consists of the following
items:
IDENTIFY MEDICAL SUPPLIES CARRIED BY
THE COMBAT LIFESAVER




Two bottles containing 50 acetaminophen tablets
(such as Tylenol). Administered for headache,
common cold, and minor pain.
One roll of adhesive tape. Used to secure the I.V.
catheter and tubing to the casualty's arm.
Two rubber artificial airways. Used to keep the airway
of an unconscious casualty open.
Five atropine autoinjectors. Used to administer
additional antidote to nerve agent casualties.
IDENTIFY MEDICAL SUPPLIES CARRIED BY
THE COMBAT LIFESAVER



Eighteen self-adhesive bandages with attached
sterile pad. Used to protect minor wounds.
What is usually called an "ace" bandage is a gauze
elastic kling bandage. While the combat lifesaver
does not bandage sprains, this bandage can be
useful as a reinforcement bandage and as padding
for a splint.
Four muslin bandages. Used to secure splints and
used as tourniquet bands, slings, and swathes.
IDENTIFY MEDICAL SUPPLIES CARRIED BY
THE COMBAT LIFESAVER




Nylon case. Used to carry the medical supplies. The
case has three zippered compartments for storing
supplies and a shoulder strap.
Two catheter and needle units. Used in administering
intravenous infusion.
Five CANA autoinjectors. Used to alleviate
convulsions in nerve agent casualties.
Six field first-aid dressings. Used to control bleeding
and protect wounds.
IDENTIFY MEDICAL SUPPLIES CARRIED BY
THE COMBAT LIFESAVER



Three pairs of rubber sterile patient examining
gloves. Used when initiating I.V.s for the protection of
both casualty and combat lifesaver.
Two intravenous injection sets. Connects the I.V. bag
to the needle and catheter unit. The clamp controls
the rate at which the fluid flows from the bag.
Six packets of povidone-iodine impregnated cotton
pads. Used to cleanse skin, especially before
performing the I.V. puncture.
IDENTIFY MEDICAL SUPPLIES CARRIED BY
THE COMBAT LIFESAVER



Eight packets of povidone-iodine ointment. Used to
protect minor wounds from infection.
One bottle containing 24 pseudoephedrine
hydrochloride tablets (such as Sudafed®).
Administered for allergies.
Two I.V. bags. Each bag contains slightly more than a
pint of sterile fluid to be administered intravenously to
avoid hypovolemic shock.
IDENTIFY MEDICAL SUPPLIES CARRIED BY
THE COMBAT LIFESAVER



One pair of scissors. Used to cut the casualty's
clothing to expose wounds, cut muslin bandages into
triangular bandages, and cut tape.
One SAM splint. Used in splinting fractured limbs.
Fourteen inches of rubber tourniquet (flat). Used as a
constricting band when performing the I.V. task.
OVERVIEW of CLS TASKS
and EQUIPMENT
CLOSING
Remember, the combat lifesaver performs
emergency care as a secondary mission only when
his primary combat mission allows. This lesson is
tested in the written multiple-choice examination.
Questions