First aid can be applied to stress reactions of the mind as well
as to physical injuries of the body. You must know how to give
psychological first aid to be able to, help yourself, your buddies,
and your unit in order to keep performing the mission. Psychological
first aid measures are simple and easy to understand. Improvisation
is in order, just as it is in splinting a fracture. Your decision
of what to do depends upon your ability to observe the soldier
and understand his needs. Time is on your side, and so are the
resources of the soldier you are helping. Making the best use
of resources requires ingenuity on your part. A stress reaction
resulting in poor judgment can cause injury or even death to yourself
or others on the battlefield. It can be even more dangerous if
other persons are affected by the judgment of an emotionally upset
individual. If it is detected early enough, the affected soldier
stands a good chance of remaining in his unit as an effective
member. If it is not detected early and if the soldier becomes
more and more emotionally upset, he may not only be a threat to
himself and to others, but he can also severely affect the morale
of the unit and jeopardize its mission.
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