- Combat Medical Technician
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A Combat Medical Technician CMT is a soldier with a specialist military trade within the Royal Army Medical Corps of the British Army and the Royal Air Force.
Contents
Role
The fully trained Combat Medical Technician 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.als acls batls.
- 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.ALS British resuscitation council
- 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
- Royal Army Medical Corps
- Battlefield medicine
- Military medicine
- Medic
- Combat medic
- Flight medic
- Medical assistant
- Ambulance#Military use
- Michelle Norris
References
- Army Form B6360 Rev 10/99
- British Army Site
External links
Categories:- British Army specialisms
- Military medicine
- Military medicine in the United Kingdom
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