The value of credible data from under‐resourced areas

Data collection requires a substantial investment in human resources and infrastructure, but it is essential that it is accurate to ensure the credibility of its use. These issues are explored in the light of data from injuries in ‘disorganized’ settings based on the experiences of field hospitals staffed by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Such data was influential in the campaign to ban landmines and can be used in the legitimate questioning of states’ foreign policies. It is important to distinguish between combatant and non‐combatant weapons injuries. A significant proportion of civilian weapons injuries in combat zones, particularly post‐conflict, occur in a domestic context; some widely quoted figures for civilian war‐related injuries are too high, though the correct figures are still far too high. While reducing the supply of arms, the importance of other social factors such as education, poverty and the provision of health care is stressed ‐ provision of health care is affected in combat zones.     

Silicon instead of iron

The effects of light weapons are now regularly seen on television and are becoming an international issue, particularly regarding their impact on civilians. It is claimed that 80% or more of deaths and injuries in today's wars are civilian; there is no objective evidence for this as little accurate information is available. Recent surveys suggest, however, a proportion of between 35 and 65% ‐ still far too high considering the protection to which civilians are entitled under international humanitarian law. It is proposed the problem arises from twentieth‐century killing power in the hands of individuals with fifteenth‐century discipline and organization.

Recent systematic surveys distinguish between civilian deaths from light weapons in combat and non‐combat situations. A high proportion of combat deaths is due to fragmenting weapons such as mortars targeted on populated areas. Many weapon‐related deaths in non‐combat situations are accidental (cleaning weapons, handling by children during play) and others are related to domestic disputes. The availability and use of weapons also affects civilians indirectly in many ways, such as ill‐health in refugees, psychosocial effects on women and children, and economic and environmental consequences.

A variety of schemes exist to reduce the availability of light weapons and reintegrate their users into society. The international community must extend and make better use of these measures.     

Civilians and war: a review and historical overview of the involvement of non-combatant populations in conflict situations

The effects of light weapons are now regularly seen on television and are becoming an international issue, particularly regarding their impact on civilians. It is claimed that 80% or more of deaths and injuries in today's wars are civilian; there is no objective evidence for this as little accurate information is available. Recent surveys suggest, however, a proportion of between 35 and 65%--still far too high considering the protection to which civilians are entitled under international humanitarian law. It is proposed the problem arises from twentieth-century killing power in the hands of individuals with fifteenth-century discipline and organization. Recent systematic surveys distinguish between civilian deaths from light weapons in combat and non-combat situations. A high proportion of combat deaths is due to fragmenting weapons such as mortars targeted on populated areas. Many weapon-related deaths in non-combat situations are accidental (cleaning weapons, handling by children during play) and others are related to domestic disputes. The availability and use of weapons also affects civilians indirectly in many ways, such as ill-health in refugees, psychosocial effects on women and children, and economic and environmental consequences. A variety of schemes exist to reduce the availability of light weapons and reintegrate their users into society. The international community must extend and make better use of these measures.     

Penetrating eye injury in war

The percentage of penetrating eye injuries in war has increased significantly in this century compared with the total number of combat injuries. With the increasing use of fragmentation weapons and possibly laser weapons on the battle-field in the future, the rate of eye injuries may exceed the 13% of the total military injuries found in Operations Desert Storm/Shield. During the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), eye injuries revealed that retained foreign bodies and posterior segment injuries have an improved prognosis in future military ophthalmic surgery as a result of modern diagnostic and treatment modalities. Compared with the increasing penetrating eye injuries on the battlefield, advances in ophthalmic surgery are insignificant. Eye armor, such as visors that flip up and down and protect the eyes from laser injury, needs to be developed. Similar eye protection is being developed in civilian sportswear. Penetrating eye injury in the civilian sector is becoming much closer to the military model and is now comparable for several reasons.     

Evaluating the Joint Theater Trauma Registry as a data source to benchmark casualty care

Just as data from civilian trauma registries have been used to benchmark and evaluate civilian trauma care, data contained within the Joint Theater Trauma Registry (JTTR) present a unique opportunity to benchmark combat care. Using the iterative steps of the benchmarking process, we evaluated data in the JTTR for suitability and established benchmarks for 24-hour mortality in casualties with polytrauma and a moderate or severe blunt traumatic brain injury (TBI). Mortality at 24 hours was greatest in those with polytrauma and a severe blunt TBI. No mortality was seen in casualties with polytrauma and a moderate blunt TBI. Secondary insults after TBI, especially hypothermia and hypoxemia, increased the odds of 24-hour mortality. Data contained in the JTTR were found to be suitable for establishing benchmarks. JTTR data may be useful in establishing benchmarks for other outcomes and types of combat injuries.     

Civilian versus military trauma dogma: who do you trust?

Combat trauma differs from its peacetime counterpart by involving a different spectrum of injuries, occurring in austere environments, dealing with mass casualties, and embodying inherent treatment delays. Thus, civilian trauma practices may be inappropriate in certain combat settings. A review of historical as well as current vivilian and military data is presented for four trauma topics (military antishock trousers, wound debridement, colon wounds, fluid resuscitation) in which civilian and military principles have clashed. The following recommendations are made. (1) Military antishock trousers are still useful in a combat setting. (2) Soft-tissue wound management should be directed by the wound rather than by the weapon. (3) Cautious avoidance of colostomy may be indicated in certain wartime colon wounds. (4) The majority of combat casualties require early vigorous fluid resuscitation. When civilian trauma experience challenges military dogma, it must be carefully considered before being applied to a combat setting.     

The image of war in Finland's medical journals

This article deals with the image of war as expressed in Finnish medical periodicals from the year 1849 till the creation of IPPNW at the beginning of the 1980s. Medical science has served the building up of our national state, and has focused on the acute injuries or diseases of the soldiers that reduced their combat effectiveness. The civilian population, the adversary and the long‐term effects of war are hardly mentioned in the publications. The subject of nuclear weapons appeared in the periodicals in 1954, but in the 1960s and 1970s they were mainly still non‐nuclear. Prevention of war was not mentioned.     

Non-lethal weapon: Injury patterns and imaging correlates for firearm alternatives

Law enforcement officers have adopted the use of non-lethal weapons to mitigate civilian casualties incurred by firearm use over recent years and decades. These weapons include, but are not limited to, TASER, beanbag rifles, pepper spray, tear gas, and Flash-ball guns. Nonetheless, severe injuries and even deaths do occur with use of these weapons, in rare instances. This review aims to comprehensively discuss these cases and associated injuries, as well as their according findings on imaging studies. It will also examine how often injuries occur in situations with non-lethal weapons.     

Combat casualty care: the Alpha Surgical Company experience during Operation Iraqi Freedom

BACKGROUND: Operation Iraqi Freedom was the first large-scale combat operation involving the U.S. Marine Corps since the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Data from a combat surgical company are presented. METHODS: Records of all U.S. and Iraqi combat casualties admitted to the surgical company were reviewed. RESULTS: Fifty-three (57%) of 93 patients suffered penetrating injuries. Most wounds were produced by high-explosive munitions (mines, hand grenades, and rocket-propelled grenades), and the majority (51%) of wounds were to the extremities. The time to surgical care averaged 4.7 hours (range, 1.5-48 hours), and 98% of the patients seen at our facility survived. CONCLUSIONS: The time from injury to surgical care was considered long by civilian standards; however, this did not appear to affect outcomes substantially. A small percentage (5.2%) of injuries were to the torso. Hypothermia was commonly present. Because of the nature of their wounds, all patients required additional surgery after evacuation to rear area facilities. The outcomes of individual patients are not known, although it is known that only one Marine died after reaching medical care and, to date, no Marines have subsequently died of their wounds.     

Challenges and considerations for managing suicide risk in combat zones

As suicide rates in the military rise, increased attention has been placed on the effective management of high-risk service members. Military mental health professionals deployed to combat zones face a number of challenges and barriers for effective risk management that are unique to the deployed setting. To date, there exists no body of literature identifying areas in which suicide risk management differs between garrison and combat settings to guide mental health professionals in improving clinical decision making with respect to managing suicidal service members in combat zones. On the basis of experience gained during deployments to combat zones, the authors outline several key features of the deployed context that can impact suicide risk and its effective management in combat zones and integrate empirical findings relevant to each issue. Considerations for clinical care and risk management are discussed.     

海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状调查

目的 了解海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状,为进一步系统有效地开展培训提供依据.方法 根据海勤人员的工作环境、战备训练及现代海战伤救治特点和规律自行设计问卷,对潜艇艇员、潜水员共计217人进行调杳.结果 特殊伤现场救护和心理应激渊适培训在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).特殊武器伤现场救护培训内容中的生物武器伤和化学武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);对核武器伤和新概念武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 战伤救护知识的培洲已在海勤部队开展,自救瓦救6项技术培训较好,新概念武器伤和特殊伤救护知识的培训开展较差.心理应激调适知识培训欠缺.     

海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状调查

目的 了解海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状,为进一步系统有效地开展培训提供依据.方法 根据海勤人员的工作环境、战备训练及现代海战伤救治特点和规律自行设计问卷,对潜艇艇员、潜水员共计217人进行调杳.结果 特殊伤现场救护和心理应激渊适培训在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).特殊武器伤现场救护培训内容中的生物武器伤和化学武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);对核武器伤和新概念武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 战伤救护知识的培洲已在海勤部队开展,自救瓦救6项技术培训较好,新概念武器伤和特殊伤救护知识的培训开展较差.心理应激调适知识培训欠缺.     

The management of head injuries on military operations

The management of head injured patients has recently been reviewed with the development of civilian guidelines for best practice. These are common injuries which often have significant sequelae for patients and costs for health care providers. Evolving civilian standards of care have implications for military medicine which is often practised in challenging environments. Considerable planning and resources are necessary to meet these standards in an operational environment. The current standards and the problems of applying them in an operational theatre are discussed.     

海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状调查

目的 了解海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状,为进一步系统有效地开展培训提供依据.方法 根据海勤人员的工作环境、战备训练及现代海战伤救治特点和规律自行设计问卷,对潜艇艇员、潜水员共计217人进行调杳.结果 特殊伤现场救护和心理应激渊适培训在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).特殊武器伤现场救护培训内容中的生物武器伤和化学武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);对核武器伤和新概念武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 战伤救护知识的培洲已在海勤部队开展,自救瓦救6项技术培训较好,新概念武器伤和特殊伤救护知识的培训开展较差.心理应激调适知识培训欠缺.     

海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状调查

目的 了解海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状,为进一步系统有效地开展培训提供依据.方法 根据海勤人员的工作环境、战备训练及现代海战伤救治特点和规律自行设计问卷,对潜艇艇员、潜水员共计217人进行调杳.结果 特殊伤现场救护和心理应激渊适培训在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).特殊武器伤现场救护培训内容中的生物武器伤和化学武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);对核武器伤和新概念武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 战伤救护知识的培洲已在海勤部队开展,自救瓦救6项技术培训较好,新概念武器伤和特殊伤救护知识的培训开展较差.心理应激调适知识培训欠缺.     

海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状调查

目的 了解海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状,为进一步系统有效地开展培训提供依据.方法 根据海勤人员的工作环境、战备训练及现代海战伤救治特点和规律自行设计问卷,对潜艇艇员、潜水员共计217人进行调杳.结果 特殊伤现场救护和心理应激渊适培训在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).特殊武器伤现场救护培训内容中的生物武器伤和化学武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);对核武器伤和新概念武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 战伤救护知识的培洲已在海勤部队开展,自救瓦救6项技术培训较好,新概念武器伤和特殊伤救护知识的培训开展较差.心理应激调适知识培训欠缺.     

海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状调查

目的 了解海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状,为进一步系统有效地开展培训提供依据.方法 根据海勤人员的工作环境、战备训练及现代海战伤救治特点和规律自行设计问卷,对潜艇艇员、潜水员共计217人进行调杳.结果 特殊伤现场救护和心理应激渊适培训在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).特殊武器伤现场救护培训内容中的生物武器伤和化学武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);对核武器伤和新概念武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 战伤救护知识的培洲已在海勤部队开展,自救瓦救6项技术培训较好,新概念武器伤和特殊伤救护知识的培训开展较差.心理应激调适知识培训欠缺.     

海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状调查

目的 了解海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状,为进一步系统有效地开展培训提供依据.方法 根据海勤人员的工作环境、战备训练及现代海战伤救治特点和规律自行设计问卷,对潜艇艇员、潜水员共计217人进行调杳.结果 特殊伤现场救护和心理应激渊适培训在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).特殊武器伤现场救护培训内容中的生物武器伤和化学武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);对核武器伤和新概念武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 战伤救护知识的培洲已在海勤部队开展,自救瓦救6项技术培训较好,新概念武器伤和特殊伤救护知识的培训开展较差.心理应激调适知识培训欠缺.     

海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状调查

目的 了解海勤人员战伤救护知识培训现状,为进一步系统有效地开展培训提供依据.方法 根据海勤人员的工作环境、战备训练及现代海战伤救治特点和规律自行设计问卷,对潜艇艇员、潜水员共计217人进行调杳.结果 特殊伤现场救护和心理应激渊适培训在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).特殊武器伤现场救护培训内容中的生物武器伤和化学武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);对核武器伤和新概念武器伤救护知识的培训,在潜艇艇员和潜水员之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 战伤救护知识的培洲已在海勤部队开展,自救瓦救6项技术培训较好,新概念武器伤和特殊伤救护知识的培训开展较差.心理应激调适知识培训欠缺.