Care Under Fire is primarily performed by which individuals?

Care Under Fire is a critical phase in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) performed primarily by first responders or combatants. This phase occurs at the scene of the injury while under direct threat or fire from the enemy. In this situation, the primary focus is on the individual’s ability to protect themselves and the casualty while seeking cover, as well as providing immediate life-saving measures.

First responders or combatants, such as fellow soldiers, are often the individuals directly involved in providing care in these high-pressure environments. They are trained to recognize life-threatening conditions and perform essential interventions, such as applying a tourniquet to control severe bleeding, all while maintaining situational awareness to ensure their safety and that of their teammates.

While combat medics, field surgeons, and medical support units play vital roles in the overall continuum of care, their functions are typically more relevant in later stages of the medical response, such as Tactical Field Care or Tactical Evacuation Care, when the environment is more stable and safer for more comprehensive medical interventions.