Which phase of care involves working under direct threat of hostile fire?

Care Under Fire is the phase that specifically involves providing immediate care to a casualty while still exposed to the threat of hostile fire. This phase focuses on the safety of both the medic and the casualty, prioritizing actions that can be taken to control bleeding and manage severe injuries with the understanding that the immediate environment remains hostile.

During this phase, the medic must assess the risk versus benefit of providing care versus finding a covered position to wait for a safer opportunity to provide more comprehensive medical treatment. The emphasis is on delivering life-saving interventions while minimizing exposure to danger, which often means administering treatment in the context of an ongoing combat situation.

Other aspects of tactical care, such as Tactical Field Care, occur after getting to a safer location where the threat level has decreased, allowing for more thorough care without the risk of gunfire. TACEVAC Care and Post-combat Care involve stages that generally take place after the immediate threat has subsided.