How many phases are there in Tactical Combat Casualty Care?

• A. Two
• B. Three
• C. Four
• D. Five

Answer: (B)

Tactical Combat Casualty Care organizes battlefield medical care into three phases that match the changing risk and available resources on the ground. First is care under fire, where lifesaving actions are performed while you’re still under threat or maneuvering to reduce exposure. The focus here is on rapid hemorrhage control and basic assessments that can be done quickly and safely. Once the area is secured enough to work without constant danger, you move into tactical field care, where you can perform a full assessment and carry out more definitive interventions—airway support, breathing checks, treating and preventing hemorrhage, chest seals if needed, splints, and ongoing monitoring. Finally comes evacuation to higher medical care, with the casualty transported to definitive care while still receiving care en route and coordinating with medics or surgical teams who will take over upon arrival.

Some curricula refer to additional breakdowns or different terminology, but the standard framework used here is three phases. This reflects the flow from immediate action under threat, to thorough in-field care, to prompt evacuation for definitive treatment.