ARLINGTON, Virginia – The Army is working on all kinds of ways to defeat, destroy and kill the enemy in what leaders believe will be the next fight — a large-scale ground combat operation with multi-domain implications.
But
an even more vexing problem than defeating high-tech enemies is how to handle
what most experts agree will be a number of casualties like the United States
hasn’t seen since World War II.
At
an Association of the U.S. Army forum held Tuesday, top leaders in the Army
medical field laid out some of the challenges they’re facing.
“The
future battlefield is one of isolation, without the ability to evacuate
casualties or get resupply,” said Brig. Gen. Anthony McQueen, commanding
general of the Army’s Medical Research and Development Command.
McQueen
noted some key demands that need solutions, including more blood on the
battlefield to treat higher numbers of wounded, more oxygen and perhaps more
medically-trained soldiers to increase the “holding” capacity of keeping
wounded in place as the force fights for safe evacuation options.
The
goal is to use technologies and procedures to extend the “Golden Hour” — the
vital time following injury to ensure survivability — to the “Golden Day,”
McQueen said.
“Equipment
must become smaller, lighter and more rugged,” he said. “And prolong life until
the casualty can reach a higher level of care.”
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