Page 4 - PJ MED OPS Handbook 8th Ed Preview
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PREFACE – This eigth edition of the Pararescue (PJ) Medical Operations Handbook (HB) is a refine-
       ment of the seventh edition which reflected the evolution of PJ Medicine (PJ MED) over the past
       half century, the Global War on Terror, other Overseas Contingency Operations (GWOT/OCO), and
       progressive civil search and rescue (SAR) missions. PJs have distinguished themselves in combat,
       civil SAR, and humanitarian assistance (HA) operations, and proved time and again the vital and
       unique role served in the Department of Defense.

       The guidelines reflect the advanced knowledge and skills required to treat injured or ill patients in
       all circumstances to include remote, austere and non-permissive environments.

       There  are  several  factors  that  define  PJ  MED  and  make  it  unique.  PJ  MED  is  comprised  of  the
       following:
         •  National Registry Paramedic Certification
         •  Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC)
         •  United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Advanced Tactical Paramedic (ATP)
            Guidelines including trauma and medical protocols
         •  Dive Medicine
         •  Wilderness and Environmental Medicine (e.g., high altitude, extreme weather, maritime op-
            erations, etc.)
         •  Fixed-Wing (FW) and Rotary-Wing (RW) in-flight medical care
         •  Expertise in the management of disasters and Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI)
         •  Prolonged Field Care including basic critical care
         •  Rescue medicine associated with technical rescues

       PJs are the only asset routinely trained to provide care during all three phases of TCCC: care under
       fire, tactical field care (TFC), and tactical evacuation (TACEVAC).
       Since participating in Operation Enduring Freedom as dedicated TACEVAC assets, PJs have devel-
       oped more expertise than ever before with the RW movement and care of critically injured patients
       after retrieving them from the point of injury (POI), resulting in increased sophistication of medical
       protocols and procedures. The robust nature of rotary wing tactical evacuation led to the expansion
       of helicopter specific medical operations.

       Other operations have led to the development of more robust Prolonged Field Care guidelines (PFC)
       which are now also included in the HB.

       Additional  sections  including  the  MTPs  (Medical  and  Trauma  Protocols)  and  palliative  care  for
       unique situations in prolonged care and recovery operations have also been added.

       Finally, PJ expertise in MCI, and observations from domestic mass shootings and bombings, has led
       to an expansion of the PJ MCI protocol section.








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