What do combat medics do

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Prosthodontist See Details. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Army Medicine. What are Army combat medics' main duties? Army combat medics have to be prepared to administer to patients on the battlefield. Here, a medic practices applying a tourniquet to a soldier at Fort Hood in Texas. Photo Courtesy of U. Duties of an Army Medic Life for an Army medic is just as hard as for any other soldier in the field.

Since medics are the first line of medical assistance during combat, their main duties are focused on emergency treatment in the field, including the following: Advertisement. Prepping wounded soldiers for triage and evacuation Administering IVs and taking vital signs Dressing and sterilizing wounds. Sources American Heart Association. Petty Officer 2nd Class Cody Greer. Corporal Brooke Dieters.

Sergeant Brian Threat. Military Training All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Medics on the battlefield must render aid to those injured while exposing themselves to danger. While under attack, medics must fight alongside their fellow soldiers.

Because of this double-duty role, combat medics often face stressors that other military specialties do not. PTSD is a cluster of symptoms that can occur following a traumatic event.

The symptoms can include: reliving the event, avoiding situations that remind you of an event, feeling on edge, nightmares, or difficulty sleeping. These stress reactions are common after a traumatic event and will usually subside in a couple of months; however, Medics with PTSD can experience these symptoms even years after the event occurs.

Due to the complex nature of PTSD, hidden dangers exist. Besides the typical symptoms listed previously, many medics experience depression, anxiety, marital problems, and substance abuse. Many veterans with PTSD self-medicate with alcohol, prescription medication, or illicit drugs. In , up to 27 percent of veterans with high combat exposure reported binge drinking every week in the prior month.

PTSD does not resolve on its own. Symptoms do not simply disappear as time goes by. Almost all cases of PTSD require some form of treatment.

Military culture requires that its members be strong, courageous, and to work hard regardless the environment. This has led to stigmatization associated with receiving mental health care. Many military personnel feel that seeking help is a sign of weakness or that their comrades and leadership will no longer have faith in them.