Priorities of care as related to analgesia and sedation:

1. Keep the casualty alive. Do not give analgesia and/or sedation if there are other priorities of care (e.g., hemorrhage control).

2. Sustain adequate physiology to maintain perfusion. Do not give medications that lower blood pressure or suppress respiration if the patient is in hemorrhagic shock or respiratory distress (or is at significant risk of developing either condition).

3. Relieve pain. Give medications to treat pain first.

4. Maintain safety. Agitation and anxiety may cause patients to do unwanted things (e.g., remove devices, fight, fall). Sedation may be needed to maintain patient safety.

5. Stop awareness. During painful procedures, and during some mission requirements, amnesia may be desired.