Improved medical procedures and equipment have helped service members survive combat wounds at unprecedented rates, according to Brig. Gen. David A. Rubenstein, the Army’s deputy surgeon general.
Speaking at the Association of the United States Army’s Winter Symposium and Exposition, Rubenstein said soldiers have survived 90 percent of their wounds in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 87 percent in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Combat survival has steadily climbed since World War II when service members survived only 70 percent of their injuries in combat.
Advancements in trauma care as well as improvements in equipment have directly contributed to this increase, Rubenstein said.
This includes:
- Improved first aid kits.
- Chitosan field dressings – do a better job at stopping bleeding.
- Warrior aid and litter kits – equipped in all vehicles.
- Hypothermia prevention kits – help retain a patient’s core heat.
- Tourniquets – increased survival up to 14 percent.
- Plasma – lasts longer than whole blood and increases the likelihood of survival.
- Forward surgical teams – located as far forward as possible. Injured soldiers are “under the knife” as soon as possible.
- “68W” combat medics – national registered EMTs with pre-hospital trauma and cardiac life support training.
All of this has helped speed the time it takes to get injured soldiers proper medical care.
“We used to talk about the golden hour. Now it’s the platinum 10 minutes,” Rubinstein said.
Twenty-three percent of soldiers evacuated to Landstuhl for additional medical care return to duty from the medical center in Germany while the remaining 77 percent are evacuated to the United States, Rubinstein said.
Of the 77 percent, two-thirds return to duty, the remaining third go before a board to determine if they are separated or can return to duty.
The latest Army Medical Action Plan has helped increase the likelihood that soldiers can return to duty because medical professionals ensure wounded warriors receive the proper care and rehabilitation, Rubenstein said.
There are currently 9,500 wounded soldiers assigned to Warrior Training Units, and while assigned there, their only mission is to heal themselves.
There are 35 Warrior Training Units with more than 2,000 cadre taking care of wounded warriors, Rubenstein said.
The Army’s comprehensive care plan focuses on the soldier’s body, mind, heart and spirit to help them in their recovery.