[The Reaper]

Not a doc, but I have to agree that the combo of HCAs, TQs, and Israeli bandages, distributed at the individual soldier level, have saved a lot of lives.

A good bit of that is testimony to the efficacy of the body armor, which is minimizing thoracic trauma (which required intervention by surgeons) and allowing soldiers and lower level medical personnel to deal with the injuries to the extremities that they can more effectively manage. Despite ballistic improvements to helmets, head injuries continue to be bad news. I think that it is almost criminal for soldiers to deploy without a Level 3A (if not Level 4) helmet and upgraded suspension system, like the Oregon Areo. The OA provides significantly improved protection from blast and impact injuries, as well as comfort, causing the soldiers to wear the helmet longer and more often without degrading their duty performance. Anyone deploying with a PASGT, MICH, or ACH who does not have the OA system should order one for themselves ASAP.

The primary threat of IEDs and VBIEDs have caused the uparmored HMMWVs to be fielded in much larger numbers than were initially deployed, and this has helped save lives as well.

TCCC and the other med training is proving to be invaluable in immediate care of serious trauma. 18Ds, SF soldiers with med cross training, and SOF personnel who have attended Spec Ops Med Training are saving lives and limbs wherever they go. There are few other training programs that have paid off as handsomely as those from the SOMTF. I suspect that the Big Army medical personnel and facilities have also improved significantly during this conflict, and a better medical system is in place now than ever before.

I think that all of these innovations and training, as a whole, are synergistically contributing to a survival rate for injured soldiers which is much higher than would otherwise be expected. And that is some good news for a change.

TR