What is the number one medical priority in Casualty Under Fire (CUF)?

In the context of Casualty Under Fire (CUF), the paramount medical priority is the early control of life-threatening external hemorrhage. During combat scenarios, casualties are at the highest risk of dying from uncontrolled bleeding, which can occur rapidly and may lead to death within minutes if not addressed promptly. Early intervention in hemorrhage control is critical because it directly influences the likelihood of survival.

Addressing external bleeding takes precedence as it mitigates one of the most immediate threats to life. The goal is to identify any significant sources of bleeding and apply appropriate interventions, such as using tourniquets or direct pressure to stop the hemorrhage. When this priority is established, subsequent actions such as evacuation, treatment of other injuries, and monitoring can occur with the understanding that the casualty's survival potential has been significantly increased through the management of the most critical threat first.

Other considerations, such as evacuation logistics or managing less severe injuries, are secondary to the urgent need to control life-threatening bleeding during high-risk situations like CUF.