Recently concluded at the Multifunctional Training Complex of the Folgore Parachute Brigade in Livorno, a TCCC training course and two refresher seminars for Military Rescuers (So.Mi.). These programmes, organised by the 'Folgore' Brigade in cooperation with the Army's Military Health and Veterinary School, involved over 60 participants from the Folgore, the Army's Special Forces Command, the Carabinieri of the 13th Carabinieri Regiment 'Friuli Venezia Giulia' and the 132nd Tank Regiment.
The importance of training and further education
The courses were developed through cycles of theoretical lectures and practical activities, following the guidelines of the protocol Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC). This approach, recognised by the Unified Command of the US Armed Forces (USSOCOM), aims to enable non-medical military personnel to perform life-saving manoeuvres on combat casualties in a timely and effective manner.
The acronym TCCC stands for Tactical Combat Casualty Careor tactical combat medicine, a protocol developed in the 1990s by US special forces. Initially applied in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, TCCC has shown remarkable effectiveness in reducing complications from battlefield injuries by improving intervention techniques and evacuation procedures from the theatre of operations. Thanks to these innovations, the mortality rate of wounded soldiers has been significantly reduced.
The TCCC approach to the management of the injured person
The TCCC systematically manages the treatment of combat casualties through three phases:
- Care Under Fire - The initial management of the wounded in the combat zone, during enemy fire. The wounded person must, if possible, continue to fight and seek cover. The rescuer must ensure that his actions are compatible with the situation and provide transport to a safe area, trying to control any massive bleeding with the use of the tourniquet.
- Tactical Field Care - Once a safe perimeter has been established, the rescuer triages the injured and intervenes with specific manoeuvres:
- Bleeding control with advanced techniques and dressings.
- Airway support and management of a possible hypertensive pneumothorax.
- Monitoring of circulation with vascular access and administration of essential drugs (e.g. Tranexamic acid in case of haemorrhagic shock).
- Prevention of hypothermia and management of possible burns and eye injuries.
- Fracture immobilisation and peripheral wrist assessment.
- Communication with the casualty to calm him down and with the tactical evacuation system (TACEVAC).
- Compilation of the TCCC Casualty Carddocumenting all procedures carried out.
- Tactical Evacuation Care - At this stage, the casualty is handed over to the evacuation teams. Essential information, such as haemodynamic stability, treatments performed and clinical condition, is passed to the evacuation medical staff. Safety is maintained throughout the process.
The Importance of the Tourniquet
A key device in the management of massive haemorrhage is the tourniquetwhich allows blood flow to be stopped in the case of severe arterial injuries or amputations. This device, which can be used independently by the wounded soldier, ensures effective haemostasis in critical situations. However, it must not be maintained for more than two hours, to avoid irreversible tissue damage.
The role of Military Rescuers in the 'Folgore' Brigade
Within the 'Folgore' Parachute Brigade, the military rescue parachutists are a strategic resource, being present in every team or section to ensure immediate first aid in the event of an injured comrade. Their task is crucial in the first ten minutes following the accident, a critical period for the survival of the injured person, until the arrival of specialised medical personnel or their evacuation to a hospital facility. This operational capability is particularly important in contexts where immediate medical assistance is not available.
An ongoing commitment to operational safety
The continuous training of Military Rescuers is part of a broader framework of updating and specialising the armed forces, aimed at improving the operational readiness and safety of personnel deployed in high-risk scenarios. The adoption of TCCC procedures guarantees high standards in the management of military emergencies, helping to save lives and make the entire rescue system more efficient in the most complex operational contexts.
