a. You may have saved the casualty's life through the
application of appropriate first aid measures. However, his life can
be lost through rough handling or careless transportation procedures.
Before you attempt to move the casualty--
- Evaluate the type and extent of his injury.
- Ensure that dressings over wounds are adequately reinforced.
- Ensure that fractured bones are properly immobilized and
supported to prevent them from cutting through muscle, blood
vessels, and skin. Based upon your evaluation of the type and
extent of the casualty's injury and your knowledge of the various
manual carries, you must select the best possible method of manual
transportation. If the casualty is conscious, tell him how he is
to be transported. This will help allay his fear of movement and
gain his cooperation and confidence.
b. Buddy aid for chemical agent casualties includes those
actions required to prevent an incapacitated casualty from receiving
additional injury from the effects of chemical hazards. If a casualty
is physically unable to decontaminate himself or administer the
proper chemical agent antidote, the casualty's buddy assists him and
assumes responsibility for his care. Buddy aid includes--
- Administering the proper chemical agent antidote.
- Decontaminating the incapacitated casualty's exposed skin.
- Ensuring that his protective ensemble remains correctly
emplaced.
- Maintaining respiration.
- Controlling bleeding.
- Providing other standard first aid measures.
- Transporting the casualty out of the contaminated area.
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