Internally Peer Reviewed B-9. The USAF recognizes five levels of care. I includes self-aid and buddy care, examination and emergency lifesaving measures such as maintenance of airway, control of bleeding, prevention and control of shock, and prevention of further injury.
Medical treatment is administered by independent duty medical personnel.
There is limited outpatient clinical services, initial trauma response, and no patient holding capability. Normally, individual service members who were exposed to a BW agent and are in need of medical care are assisted by the WMDT in the decontamination process. Commanders must be aware that military personnel who become BW medical casualties will require medical treatment for more than 7 days and it is unlikely that they will be recovered to 75 percent capacity to permit return to duty until after a lengthy convalescent period. In-theater commanders must make arrangements for medical evacuation of BW casualties and arrangement for replacement personnel. Continental US commanders must prepare for at least a 10-day forecast of patient loads from theater commanders and identify resources for treatment and recovery of BW patients.