TREATMENT OF COMBAT STRESS IN MASS CASUALTIES

File: 062896_may_decls15_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 12

Subject: TREATMENT OF COMBAT STRESS IN MASS CASUALTIES                   

Box ID: BX001433

Unit: 24TH ID     

Parent  Organization: XVIII CORPS 

Folder Title: HOSPITAL REPORTS                                                                                

Folder Seq #:        450

Document Number:          4

Document Date: 

Scan Date: 03-JUN-1996



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                                                             AFZP-MD
                                                             090944C DEC 90

                       INFORMATION PAPER FOR COMMANDERS

    SUBJECT: Treatment/Triage of Combat Stress/
              Battle Fatigue Mass Casualties


    1. Purpose. To inform Commanders on the Process of Treatment
    and Triage of Mass Combat Stress/Battle Fatigue Casualties,
    During Offensive Operations                 1

    2. References. FM 8-51 Brigade/Division Surgeon's Handbook Combat
    Stress.

    3. Historical Data. Divisions engaged in MODERATE TO HEAVY
    CONVENTIONAL COMBAT average one Battle Fatigue Casualty (BFC) for
    every three to five wounded - in - action (for example, in World War
    II, Korea, the Israeli 1973 and 1982 conflicts). That is BFC:WIA
    ration between 1:3 to 1:5. Under especially adverse conditions, (such
    at the 6th Marine Division faced on Okinawa, 1945), ratios have
    reached 1:2. During or immediately after desperate actions by company
    - sized units, Battle Fatigue Casualties have equalled the wound
    casualties (1:1).

    4. Facts. In the event of offensive operations involving the 24th ID
    (M) each Commander and leader will have to deal with soldiers in their
    units who become Combat Stress/Battle Fatigue Casualties. Combat
    Stress control is a recognized Army Medical Department (AMEDD)
    functional area; It refers to a coordinate program conducted primarily
    by organic unit mental health personnel. Personnel performing this
    mission are augmented as needed by CORPS specialized medical units.

    5. The CSC Team's mission is to assist Commanders and other medical
    units with Combat Stress Control (CSC). Additional assistance is
    provided for education leader's on the prevention of these disorders.
    The following are treatment modalities:

        1. Restoration - 1-3 day treatment process for soldiers who are
 soldiers are treated at medical
        units close to their units as their condition and tactical
        situation allows.

        2. R@c@@dijtioti@ - Is characterized by treatment for 4 to 28
        days of those who have not improved sufficiently in restoration or
        whose systems were so dramatic that they require stabilization at
        a CORP level hospital.

        3. Stabilization - Involves the acute management of the small
        percentage of Battle Fatigue cases and neuropsychiatric patients
        who have severe behavioral or medical disturbances and evaluation
        of their Return to Duty (RTD) potential.

Document 12 f:/Week-22/BX001433/HOSPITAL REPORTS/treatment of combat stress in mass casualties:06219615521917
Control Fields 17
File Room = may96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-22
Box ID = BX001433
Unit = 24TH ID
Parent Organization = XVIII CORPS
Folder Title = HOSPITAL REPORTS
Folder Seq # = 450
Subject = TREATMENT OF COMBAT STRESS IN MASS CASUALTIES
Document Seq # = 17
Document Date =
Scan Date = 03-JUN-1996
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 21-JUN-1996