SIA CP Medical First Aid for Close Protection 2

Question 1

What is 'MARCH' as a tactical first aid framework?

Accepted Answer

Massive haemorrhage, Airway, Respiration, Circulation, Hypothermia — a tactical casualty care sequence

Answer

MARCH is used in tactical medicine: Massive haemorrhage control first (as it kills fastest), then Airway, Respiration, Circulation and Hypothermia prevention — overriding the traditional ABCDE sequence.

Question 2

Why does the MARCH protocol prioritise massive haemorrhage over airway?

Accepted Answer

In traumatic injury scenarios, catastrophic bleeding kills faster than airway obstruction and is more immediately preventable

Answer

Research from combat medicine showed that most preventable deaths in trauma were from haemorrhage; addressing bleeding immediately — before airway — saves the most lives in traumatic injury scenarios.

Question 3

What is the treatment for tension pneumothorax in a tactical first aid context?

Accepted Answer

Needle chest decompression to relieve pressure on the lung

Answer

Tension pneumothorax (air trapped in the chest compressing the lung and heart) is treated by needle decompression; it is a life-threatening emergency recognisable by breathing difficulty, falling blood pressure and tracheal deviation.

Question 4

What is a 'chest seal' used for in tactical first aid?

Accepted Answer

To seal an open chest wound and prevent air from being sucked in, which would collapse the lung

Answer

An open chest wound (sucking chest wound) allows air to enter the chest cavity, collapsing the lung; a vented chest seal allows air to escape but not enter, preventing tension pneumothorax.

Question 5

What is the correct treatment for a suspected spinal injury in a tactical context?

Accepted Answer

Minimise movement if the scene is safe; in a tactical scenario, rapid extraction may take priority over spinal precautions if the threat requires immediate movement

Answer

Traditional spinal precautions can be overridden in a tactical situation where an ongoing threat makes staying in place more dangerous than movement; the decision depends on threat versus injury risk.

SIA Close Protection Practice Test

SIA Close Protection Practice Test

SIA CP Medical First Aid for Close Protection 2