1993-1993, Army Combat Lifesaver Course (Fort Sill, Oklahoma)
Description The US Army Combat Lifesaver Course is an official medical training course conducted by the US Army. The course is intended to provide an intermediate step between the buddy aid-style basic life support taught to every soldier and the advanced life support skills that are taught to US Army Combat Medics and to US Army Special Forces Medical Sergeants[citation needed] ( MOS 68W and MOS 18D respectively).
Course outline
While a CLS certification is technically permanent, soldiers in Priority 1 units (actively-deploying brigade combat teams, for example) must retake the course once a year to retain their certification.[2][3]
Scope of curriculum
Aside from basic first aid, Combat Lifesavers are also taught to identify and perform the correct pre-hospital treatment for:
Tension pneumothorax produced by a penetrating (bullet/frag) or non-penetrating (explosive barotrauma) lung injury
Vascular hypovolemia produced by uncontrolled external hemorrhage
External arterial hemorrhage (especially from an extremity)
Destabilized spinal cord injuries
Sucking chest wound produced by a penetrating (bullet/frag) chest injury
Respiratory failure produced by a non patent airway in an unconscious or semi-conscious casualty
Combat Lifesavers are not, however, trained or permitted to perform (among other things) laryngoscopy, single lumen tracheal intubation or any kind of surgery (such as emergency cricothyrotomy)
The CLS was replaced by the Tier 2 Tactical Combat Casualty Care in 2020.
Type General Military Training
Location/Country Fort Sill / Oklahoma
From Month/Year Mar / 1993
To Month/Year Mar / 1993
Rank Sergeant
Last Updated: Jun 15, 2021
Personal Memories
Best Moment Riding in the Helicopter as a "patient" and then getting to ride in it again in the jumpseat with the door open. I had never been in a helicopter before and although it was a short ride, it was awesome. Thank you Mr. Bustamante.
