The easy to remember mnemonic MARCH reminds us of the priorities in treating casualties during TECC and TCCC situations. MARCH provides a framework to address immediate life threats and gives an organized approach to begin a casualty evaluation.Β The MARCH mnemonic is preferable to the ABCDE model because it takes into consideration the reason you need an airway and to be breathing is to circulate blood to the casualty’s brain. Recognizing that, the first step in our casualty evaluation should be to look for massive hemorrhage.
Once past massive hemorrhage, A-R-C is loosely approximated by A-B-C. H- is a reminder that a large number of traumatic casualties arrive at the emergency department or medical treatment facility hypothermic which dramatically increases their death rate.
The MARCH mnemonic can be applied to any patient, as the initial casualty evaluation usually rules out massive hemorrhage.
π Reading Time, 3 minutes Burns over 20% total body surface area (TBSA) result in increased capillary permeability and intravascular fluid deficits that are most severe at 24-hours post-burn. Cardiac output decreases rapidly post-burn. With correct fluid resuscitation, cardiac output …
Airway control remains the top priority for field treatment of burn casualties.1 Researched and written by Mike Shertz, MD/18D, not AI π Reading Time, 4 minutes Hypovolemic and distributive shock can occur in burned patients but they are usually a …
π Reading Time, 1 minutes Kerlix Gauze packing can generate up to 197 mmHg at the bottom of the wound and 45 mmHg on the sides. Xstat can generate 156 mmHg and 123 mmHg respectively. Although itβs unclear XSTAT is …
π Reading Time, 4 minutes In concept, any non-elastic material wrapped circumferentially around a limb and tightened should be able to generate enough pressure to occlude arterial flow and act as a tourniquet. Although there are numerous tourniquets on the …
π Reading Time, 3 minutes A doppler ultrasound is a non-invasive device that uses high-frequency sound waves to estimate the amount of blood flow through your arteries and veins, usually those that supply blood to your arms and legs. A …
π Reading Time, 3 minutes A few months ago I was shown a new technique for an improvised tourniquet. Unlike the traditional military cravat improvised tourniquet that requires two cravats, this new technique only requires one. However, we have some …
