Combat medical technician

The fully trained combat medical technician or CMT is capable of: • assisting with the management of surgical, medical and psychiatric casualties from the onset of the condition until the casualty is admitted to a hospital offering specialist care. This capacity is to include the immediate necessary first aid and other sustaining procedures required to hold a casualty for a limited period in a non-hospital situation. • undertaking the administrative procedures and documentation for casualties in field units, medical reception stations and unit medical centres, including those required for and during casualty ==Class 3 and 2 standards==

• Trained in anatomy, physiology and first aid. • Has a general understanding of medical terminology and is capable of carrying out first aid in an emergency situation until expert medical assistance is available • Works under supervision to provide assistance to medical officers in field units and medical reception stations. • Assists in setting up field medical units and is trained in medical fieldcraft including the use of radio equipment, navigation by foot or vehicle across country and field medical equipment • Capable of carrying out basic nursing procedures • Initiates and maintains casualty documentation and supply/equipment documentation • Recognises abnormalities in casualty observations, body appearances and consciousness levels • Trained in basic life support (BLS) to UK Resuscitation Council guidelines • Trained in Army environmental health issues at unit level ==Class 1 standard==

• As for Class 2 and 3, but with additional training and experience (see above) • Provides health advice to non medical junior commanders • Has a good understanding of anatomy and physiology • Is able to take control of an emergency situation • Is trained in basic diagnostic techniques and able to report findings to medical services • Advises on basic field hygiene • Capable of advanced first aid and using advanced resuscitation techniques • Administers non-controlled drugs ordered by a medical officer • Administers drugs by oral route, inhalations, plus intradermal-, intramuscular- and subcutaneous injection • Sutures simple wounds • Maintains, or supervises the maintenance of, and indents for medical equipment • Trains junior medical assistants Additionally, at Class 1 the CMT is trained in the procedures and principles of Battlefield Advanced Trauma Life Support (BATLS), which includes advanced life support, cricothyrotomy and thoracentesis. ==Further progression by rank==

• At the rank of corporal, the combat medical technician also supervises and controls medical assistants working in medical unit departments, such as medical section 2 i/c in a close support (CS) medical regiment. • At the rank of sergeant or staff sergeant, the combat medical technician takes charge of a department, accounting for equipment and carrying out the administrative duties for soldiers within the department, medical section commander in a close support (CS) medical regiment or a role 2 medical treatment facility within a general support (GS) medical regiment. • At the rank of warrant officer, the combat medical technician supervises a number of departments, and maintains discipline and morale within those departments, providing for the efficiency and effectiveness of the unit. ==See also==