Army Medicine, new techniques????

[JackieCardiffUni]

I'm a medical student at Cardiff Uni and I'm trying to do a project on being a doctor in the army.

My main interest is: Can the NHS learn anything for the way the army practices medicine? New techniques/ equipment/ staff levels and especially coping with haemorrhage. (and also vice versa- army learn anything for NHS?!)

If there are any army doctors/ people with experience of medicine in the army it would be great if you could give me any ideas.

Thanks!

[Tom-bear]

haemorrhage control would be a good one too look at, particulary becuase the army are massively into using C.A.T's and haemostatic agents whereas the NHS dont use them at all. I beleive paramedics would loose registration if a tourniquets are applied in civvie situations. If you want any more information just mail me, im currently a serving army medic CMT1,BATLS, and team medic instructor..

[druadan]

The problem with all things is health and safety and the litigation culture. If a civvy applies a tourniquet too tight and you lose an arm, you can sue them to high hell and they'll probably lose their career. Happens in the military, you're just lucky to be alive. That and the fact that primary aid in combat situations is delivered in a far less suitable environment than more or less any imaginable scene in the UK, and instead of a nice cosy ambulance with a couple of paramedics to rush you to hospital with the best facilities that can be provided to keep you alive whilst mobile you get a Doc in the back of a helo or wagon getting thrown around all over the place with little to no help and far less variety in equipment. To me it seems civvy medicine is designed to give you the best chance of survival with the best possible end result; military medicine by necessity is about keeping you alive long enough in unhospitable situations to see the hospital, and so more drastic measures are required, which come with a higher risk of things going wrong.

But then I'm no medical professional, just my humble opinion from what I've seen.