The main categories of kits you need to be familiar with are:
- Joint First Aid Kit (JFAK): used by nonmedical personnel, who are proficient in basic lifesaving TCCC skills.
- Combat Lifesaver (CLS) Bag: used by nonmedical personnel, who have been trained above and beyond basic lifesaving TCCC skills to treat the most common causes of death on the battlefield to recognize more serious injuries, prevent further deterioration, and communicate effectively with medical personnel.
- Combat Medic/Corpsman (CMC) Aid Bags: used by medical personnel who have received more advanced training and are the first medical personnel to care for the casualty in the prehospital environment and are expected to provide more advanced combat casualty care.
- Combat Paramedic/Provider (CPP) Kit: used by more advanced medical personnel/providers who are expected to provide more advanced care requiring significantly more medical knowledge and skills.
The contents of each of these kits are similar but reflect the TCCC scope of care of the responders intended to use the kit. If there are equipment options approved by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC), those must be used.
This lesson provides an opportunity to get a hands-on introduction to the kits and their contents. The equipment discussed supports the provision of TCCC per the current guidelines and enables the All Service Members, Combat Lifesaver, Combat Medic/Corpsman, or Combat Paramedic/Provider to address issues identified in Care Under Fire, Tactical Field Care, and TACEVAC Care using the MARCH PAWS approach.