Knowing your limitations will help you to provide the best medical care possible. Training on equipment will make you proficient in the task, but if you deploy with other products, then you may not understand the product when you really need to know it. For example, if you train with a CAT 7 tourniquet, then deploy with that tourniquet. Do not carry equipment that you do not know how to use or will not use.

Mass casualties can last for a small amount of time or span over a matter of days, so triage your equipment in order for it to last. Use your patient’s supplies first to preserve your supplies for others who are injured.

Cross-stock your equipment. Inspect your gear to make sure it is combat-ready. Tourniquets are notorious for breaking because of repeated use, so if you train with your equipment, make sure to replace or inspect the equipment before deployment to ensure it will not fail.

Train with a heavier load to prepare for the rigors of combat. Understanding your terrain will also help you adjust to the physical requirements. A deployment to the mountains of Afghanistan is different from the flat deserts of Iraq, which means different preparation.

It is important to understand the potential operational impact of a heavy fighting load which can be compounded by the weight of the CLS bag (or the Combat Medic/Corpsman aid bag). This must be considered when packing medical equipment and every effort made to reduce excess weight as much as possible without compromising casualty care.