The Combat Medic/Corpsmen (CMC) will continuously communicate with the casualty (if possible) by encouraging, reassuring, and explaining each step of care being rendered. Being wounded can cause significant anxiety and fear above and beyond the psychological trauma of combat. Talking frankly with the casualty about their injuries and offering reassurance by describing the treatments being rendered and emphasizing that everything possible is being done to care for them can help decrease their anxiety.

Be honest about the injuries sustained but maintain a positive attitude about treatment and timely evacuation. Talking with the casualty helps assess their mental status, while talking through procedures helps maintain your own focus and confidence as well as the casualty’s confidence in you.

Communicate with first responders, other medical personnel, and tactical leadership about casualty injuries, condition, movement, status, and ongoing care (including annotating treatment on DD Form 1380).

Communicate with tactical leadership immediately on evacuation requirements and throughout casualty treatment. Tactical leadership needs to understand the potential impact to the mission. Unit tactical standard operating procedures and/or battle drills will determine who will communicate with the evacuation system including the 9-line MEDEVAC requests and MIST report(s) (complete review of the 9-line MEDEVAC request and MIST report covered in Module 21). It is up to the CMC to help teach and supply information that is required for evacuation requests and reports.

The CMC will continue treatment until handoff to a higher or equal level of care.

Example of what information the tactical leadership may need to know:

- How many casualties?
- What is the casualty's initial evacuation category?
- Who was injured (key leader/personnel)?
- Can the casualty still fight (ambulatory vs. litter)?
- Urgency of evacuation?