Mass casualty incidents (MCI) - UNITAF Force Manual (FM)

FM/G41 - Mass casualty incidents (MCI)

Guide

FM/BG-182 - Working with mass casualty incidents (MCI)

Guide

A mass casualty incident is any medical situation which renders an element combat ineffective and where it's unable to sustain itself. When dealing with MCIs as a medic a structured approach is required. For example a senior medic may instruct the following:

Combat Life Savers: tourniqueting all limbs, checking airways, bandaging head and torso, stitching or CPR.
Squad or Combat Medics: ensuring airways are clear and all casualties are receiving blood.
Platoon Medics and above: triaging incoming wounded and tasking other helpers to ensure all casualties are being treated.

Skill

FM/BS-180 - Identify a mass casualty incident

Skill

Recognize a mass casualty incident (MCI) as any situation where the element is overwhelmed by the amount and severity of casualties, to the point that the organically attached medical personel are unable to effectively deal with it.

Skill

FM/BS-181 - Follow the medical chain of command

Skill

As a medic working at a mass casualty incident (MCI) or casualty collection point (CCP):

follow this hierarchy:
- MERT Officer or CMT Leader
- Platoon Medic
- SF Medic
- MERT or CMT Technician
- Squad Medic
- Combat Medic
- Combat Life Saver
execute the tasks given by those above in the hierarchy
give tasks to those below in the hierarchy

Skill

FM/BS-183 - Communicate with leadership

Skill

Communicate the following information to your leadership at regular intervals:

Casualty count, by triage
Estimated time to recovery
A need for more help, if required