Field hospital

A **field hospital** is a small  medical facility that takes care of casualties close to the battlefield, or in case of disasters. The World Health Organization gives the  of a field hospital as: "a mobile, self-contained, self-sufficient health care  capable of rapid  and  or  to meet immediate emergency requirements for a specified period of time". The treatment of wounds received in war is an ancient art. The term "field hospital" is most often used as a military term.

## History 
### Ancient warriors 
It has been the custom of removing wounded soldiers from the battlefield and caring for them since ancient times. They were taken to  shelters and given what care was customary for that time period.

In Homer's Iliad, it makes brief mention of Machaon and Podalirius. These are the earliest mention in literature of field surgeons who helped fallen soldiers. The Greeks and Romans were known to use nearby houses, stables and temples as field hospitals to care for wounded soldiers.

### Middle Ages 
Among the men returning from the Crusades were many , blind and sick who needed care. The Church set up Religious orders to care for the sick and injured.

Medieval Spain was fairly advanced in field medicine. When Spanish armies went on campaigns, medics and surgeons went with them. Soldiers sometimes waited for days to be removed from the battlefield. The wounded had no water or food, and flies would plague them as they lay there bleeding. Many died from infection before getting medical help. If they were removed, they were sent to makeshift surgical facilities where overworked surgeons did the best they could. Doctors did not understand what caused infections and could do very little to treat them. Estimates are that twice as many soldiers died from disease as died from gunshot wounds. Doctors did not wash instruments or their hands as they moved from patient to patient. Stretcher bearers were medical soldiers who carried the wounded off the field. They usually held about 400 beds while the more  evacuation hospitals could be 400 or 750 bed hospitals. But the Germans differed in their triage procedures were different. Their first aid was given at a *verwundetennest* by army medics (not doctors). In times of emergency, they see civilian patients. These are two examples of modern military field hospitals serving a dual purpose.

For countries affected by natural disasters, many (in the Americas at least) have most of the supplies they need already in the country. This is contrary to what the news media often reports. While many are still made of fabric, they are specifically designed to be clean, safe and comfortable shelters. The affected country, international relief organizations (e.g. the United Nations), non-profit organizations or the country providing the emergency relief often cause delays or otherwise limit the providing of emergency medical facilities. To  attack a hospital or any medical unit is considered a war crime. This has been a basic part of international law since it was started in 1864. The medical team as well as the patients (of either side) should be treated with respect. They must be allowed to perform their normal duties tending to the sick and wounded. In international conflicts,  medical personnel must be repatriated (sent back to their own country) except for a short period of time when their services are needed to care for their patients. Permanent medical personnel are those who are assigned to a medical mission for the entire time of the conflict. Temporary personnel may be taken prisoner and their medical skills may be used during the time they are imprisoned. If a conflict is not international, then the above s between permanent and temporary medical personnel are not made. But in no case may medical personnel be punished for caring for sick and wounded enemy soldiers.

## References 
## Other websites 
* al Azraq Camp Field Hospital Staff Video - Jordan المستشفى الميداني - مخيم الأزرق: YouTube (with subtitles)
* 212th Combat Field Hospital (Warning: Graphic Content): YouTube
* Samaritan's Purse Mobile Field Hospital; YouTube
* About Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières; YouTube