Combat Life Saver

Lesson 24MANAGE A CASUALTY WITH

COMBAT STRESS REACTION (BATTLE FATIGUE)

Compiled and edited by,2LT John C. Miller, PA-C

Lesson 24MANAGE A CASUALTY WITH

COMBAT STRESS REACTION (BATTLE FATIGUE)

INTRODUCTION

Not all casualties have bleeding wounds, broken bones, or chemical agent poisoning. Some casualties suffer psychological injuries, commonly referred to as combat stress reaction, but since World War II it has also been called battle fatigue. Most combat stress casualties can be treated without evacuating them out of the combat zone. Sometimes the treatment is simply making sure the soldier gets a good night's rest, warm food, and a change of clothing.

MANAGE A CASUALTY WITHCOMBAT STRESS REACTION (BATTLE FATIGUE)

INTRODUCTION (cont)

Combat stress can be mild to severe. Mild cases do not seriously interfere with the soldier's effectiveness. If the combat stress is moderate to severe, the soldier is ineffective and usually requires evacuation. Moderate and severe combat stress reactions are sometimes referred to as "more serious" combat stress.

MANAGE A CASUALTY WITHCOMBAT STRESS REACTION (BATTLE FATIGUE)

TASK

Identify characteristics of combat stress reaction and its treatment.

CONDITIONS

Given written items pertaining to the identification and treatment of combat stress reaction.

STANDARD

Score 70 or more points on the 100-point written examination.

IDENTIFY THE CAUSES OF COMBAT STRESS

Some of the problems which contribute to the development of combat stress are:

Physical exhaustion. Constant alertness. Loss of sleep. Trauma of seeing fellow soldiers wounded or killed. Fear of being killed or maimed. Fear of killing other people. Fear of failure or disgrace. Worry about family problems back home.

IDENTIFY THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OFMILD COMBAT STRESS REACTION

Physical Signs and Symptoms Tenseness, jumpy, startled at sudden sounds or

movement. Headache, backache, pain in old wounds. Fidgeting, fine trembling of the hands, fumbling. Cold sweat, dry mouth, pale skin. Blurred vision.

IDENTIFY THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OFMILD COMBAT STRESS REACTION

Pounding heart, feeling dizzy or light-headed. Feeling "out of breath," breathing too rapidly. Tingling, cramps, or numbness in fingers and toes. Upset stomach, "dry heaves," or actual vomiting. Uncontrollable emptying of bowels and bladder when

danger suddenly appears. Fatigue, feeling drained of energy. Blank, haunted, "1000-yard" stare.

IDENTIFY THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OFMILD COMBAT STRESS REACTION

Mental and Emotional Signs and Symptoms Anxiety, worrying, bothered by little things. Irritability, complaining. Difficulty in paying attention or remembering details. Difficulty in thinking, speaking, and communicating. Sleeping difficulties, such as being awakened by bad

dreams. Grieving, tearfulness, crying for a dead or wounded

buddy.

IDENTIFY THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OFMILD COMBAT STRESS REACTION

Feeling guilty about mistakes made or at things that had to be done.

Anger, resentment. Feeling let down others, loss of confidence in self

and/or others.

TREAT A CASUALTY WITH MILD COMBAT STRESS REACTION

Be calm. Keep the soldier focused on the unit's immediate

mission. Encourage the soldier to eat, bathe, and sleep as the

tactical mission and safety permit. Keep the soldier busy when he is not resting. Get the soldier to perform simple, well-learned tasks. Have the soldier use relaxation techniques (take a

deep breath and let it out slowly, etc.).

TREAT A CASUALTY WITH MILD COMBAT STRESS REACTION

Allow and encourage the soldier to ventilate his feelings.

Remind the soldier that some degree of combat stress reaction is normal and to be expected.

IDENTIFY THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OFMODERATE/SEVERE COMBAT STRESS REACTION

Physical Signs and Symptoms Cannot keep still, constantly moving around. Arms or whole body shake. Cowering in terror. Flinching or ducking at almost any sudden sound or

movement. Sudden paralysis (hand, arm, leg) with no injury. Sudden blindness or deafness (partial or complete)

with no injury.

IDENTIFY THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OFMODERATE/SEVERE COMBAT STRESS REACTION

Total immobility (freezing) under fire. Total physical exhaustion (just stands or sits). Staggering or swaying when standing.

IDENTIFY THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OFMODERATE/SEVERE COMBAT STRESS REACTION

Mental and Emotional Signs and Symptoms Rapid talking, constantly making suggestions. Starting fights, recklessness, "vicious" behavior within

own group, uncontrollable anger. Social withdrawal (silence, sulking, prolonged

sadness). Inattentiveness to self-care and hygiene, no interest

in eating. Apathetic and indifferent to danger.

IDENTIFY THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OFMODERATE/SEVERE COMBAT STRESS REACTION

Cannot remember orders, how to perform duties, or where he is.

Inability to concentrate or make decisions. Severe speech problems, including stuttering and

inability to talk. Fear of sleeping, even in a relatively safe area. Sees things which are not there (usually after severe

sleep loss). Rapid emotional swings, hysteria, strange behavior. Panic running under fire.

TREAT A CASUALTY WITHMODERATE/SEVERE COMBAT STRESS REACTION

A soldier suffering from moderate or severe combat stress reaction usually requires routine evacuation. Combat stress reaction patients should be managed separately from other patients. Combat stress reaction casualties usually recover completely after resting in a safe area, being able to clean up, and receiving hot, nutritious meals. About 70 to 85 percent of evacuated combat stress reaction casualties are capable (with good management) of returning to their combat units within three days.

TREAT A CASUALTY WITHMODERATE/SEVERE COMBAT STRESS REACTION

Early on, these patients need to talk, ventilate to any medical person. All combat stress reaction patients should be treated with the expectation of their going back to duty. Most of the remainder will return to their own unit or to another unit within two weeks.

Appear to be calm and in control of the situation. Calmly try to talk the casualty into cooperating if he is

responsive.

TREAT A CASUALTY WITHMODERATE/SEVERE COMBAT STRESS REACTION

If the soldier appears to be dangerous, take his weapon away from him.

Physically restrain the casualty if the soldier is a danger to himself or others. Get medical assistance if possible. Evacuate the casualty if he does not improve or if he

is dangerous. Restrain the casualty if needed.

TREAT A CASUALTY WITHMODERATE/SEVERE COMBAT STRESS REACTION

Question: What are some of the things done to help mild and more

serious combat stress casualties recover?

Response: Normal activities such as sleeping, eating, and getting

cleaned up which the soldier has been denied due to combat conditions.

Question: About how many combat stress casualties that are

evacuated return to the unit within three days?

Response: 70 to 85 percent.

MANAGE A CASUALTY WITHCOMBAT STRESS REACTION (BATTLE FATIGUE)

CLOSING

Procedures used to treat mild combat stress reaction casualties can also be used to prevent combat stress from developing. When a combat stress reaction casualty returns to the unit, welcome him back. Be willing to talk about what happened and express your confidence in him. Make him feel part of the unit again. Remember, no one is immune to combat stress reaction.

This lesson is tested in the written multiple-choice examination.

Questions