Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps
-
The modern soldier, as with his predecessors, remains at risk from penetrating cranio-cerebral injury. The subject is briefly reviewed and the modern approach outlined in a military context.
-
Since the withdrawal of Royal Air Force Puma helicopters from Belize in 1994, the role of casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) of British military personnel, Belizean citizens and foreign nationals throughout the country, has passed to 25 Flight Army Air Corps, currently equipped with Gazelle helicopters. Details of casualty evacuations during 1995 and 1996 have been collated and analysed in order to provide information on casualty types, and the locations from which casualties have been evacuated, during this 2 year period. The data so obtained might be used to ensure the future provision of an appropriately equipped CASEVAC helicopter, or to highlight common causes of significant morbidity in British troops deployed to Belize.
-
The deployment of British Contingent (BRITCON) to United Nations Force in Rwanda (UNAMIR) on Operation GABRIEL in 1994, proved to be a successful deployment on humanitarian operations. Many of the lessons have been successfully incorporated into training, equipment and organisational structures since the deployment. Others require further work to develop and assimilate. ⋯ Implications for future humanitarian operations include a co-operative approach to pre-deployment training with the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) community. This will help to promote understanding between the 2 arms of the humanitarian effort and will exploit the strengths of both sides. Equally, the military medical services have to be fully aware of mission definition and its centrality to planning, execution and audit of performance.