[frostfire]

Disclaimer: I requested Reaper's permission to post this here. Mods please remove if irrelevant/improper.

I am currently assigned at the receiving end of the "cast" part in "cast or tab."
If you are injured enough to be admitted to the hospital or med-dropped, most likely I'll work with you toward healing.

1. Please watch for ground hazards even when back at the barracks. Got a guy who ran into an object protruding from the ground on the way back from latrine at night. He reached down and could feel bone and tendon at his knee.

2. Obviously scratches/scrapes will result from busting draw etc. However, if you get deep cut, even without severe bleeding, please take good care to clean the wounds and keep it clean. Knowing some basics of preventing injuries from getting worse pays off big time (Not sure if candidates are carrying first aid kit or if TMC allowed to give prophylactic antibiotics) There are nasty bugs out there. Being sleep deprived, not having optimal nutrition, and stress hormornes pumping out, the immune system is not at level it used to or needs to be. Got someone who cut his elbow, then developed abcess, and his WBC and ESR were so high he had to be admitted.

3. Heat casualty does happen in cold weather too. Recognize when too much layering hinders heat release, which differ for each individual dependin on activity type. Also hydration and ORS as mentioned countless time before.


I got nothing as far as how far to push one self. Got a guy who gut it out all the way through with chest pain. Afterwards, in the ED he presented with tension pneumothorax! Whenever I resent this cold, muggy, drizzly, chilling weather, I just have to remember those out in MacKall right now and all is well and fuzzy warm over here. You guys are impressive. Hats off to you all. I'm sure I will come across more tales of indomitable spirit.