The main priority in Care Under Fire is establishing fire superiority to avoid additional casualties and additional injuries to existing casualties. Treatment priorities can then be addressed. Per the TCCC guidelines, these are:
- Extracting casualties from burning vehicles or buildings (if applicable)
- Stopping life-threatening external hemorrhage using limb tourniquets (if tactically feasible).
- Direct casualty to control hemorrhage by self-aid if able.
- Use a CoTCCC-recommended limb tourniquet for hemorrhage that is anatomically amenable to tourniquet use.
- Apply the limb tourniquet over the uniform clearly proximal to the bleeding site(s). If the site of the life-threatening bleeding is not readily apparent, place the tourniquet “high and tight” (as proximal as possible) on the injured limb.
- Move casualties to cover whenever possible.