2006-10-01 16:13:22 · 15 answers · asked by BD98 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I had a good discussion one time with a medical corps officer while over there in Iraq and ended up doing some research afterwards for curiosity's sake. Here's a good reference for you if you can read PowerPoint:
http://www.tamhsc.edu/homeland/files/20%20August%20-%20San%20Antonio/20%20Aug05%20Change%20is%20Hard.ppt
If you can't read PowerPoint, here's the HTML version:
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:G3L6AFNh6HIJ:www.tamhsc.edu/homeland/files/20%2520August%2520-%2520San%2520Antonio/20%2520Aug05%2520Change%2520is%2520Hard.ppt+vietnam+war+casualty+kia+wia+rtd&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1
In a nutshell, the figures are as follows:
8.8% = Fatality Rate for Injured Personnel - OIF/OEF
16.5% = Fatality Rate for Injured Personnel - Vietnam/Gulf War 1
22.8% = Fatality Rate for Injured Personnel - World War 2
You have to remember that we have far better body armor and medical supplies on the individual level (advanced tourniquets, bandages, individually issued medical kits, etc) so it's not just medical technology saving more people.
Have fun reading the PowerPoint slide.
2006-10-01 17:06:51 · answer #1 · answered by Nat 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
While I'm sure the number have improved, I'm not so sure those numbers would be significantly different as even back in the Korean War, the vast majority of casualties that did not die prior to making it to a medical facility were saved. During CASEVAC's we often talk about the "golden hour". If you got an injured patient into a medical facility within an hour his chances were quite good and this was also true for Viet Nam and Korea.
Something that has had a huge impact on reducing fatalities however has been the body armor we now use which is far superior to that used in Viet Nam. Infact, there is an increased amount of concussion injuries compared to Viet Nam because people are surviving attacks that would have been fatal with the old gear, but the armor can't protect against the concussion.
2006-10-01 23:44:05 · answer #2 · answered by WildBill846 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
According to a Harvard study the percentage of deaths from injury were 24% in Vietnam & 10% in Iraq. That is a signant decrease in death. Unfortunately, it does mean the severity of injury that our soldiers must live with have increased. The need for our support this time has greatly increased. As a nation, we were a disgrace after Vietnam. I hope our support for our military is far greater & what they deserve for risking their lives to serve their country.
2006-10-02 00:01:21 · answer #3 · answered by Wolfpacker 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As a VietNam medivac medic, I question your comment about "Vietnam-era technology". We saved a lot of servicemen with our technology. We were proud of our 1) immediate care, 2)immediate transport, and 3)excellent medical facilities (I flew out of DaNang). Sure, some things are more advanced, but the care was good then too.
2006-10-01 23:58:19 · answer #4 · answered by stephen p 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
flew many mission out of DaNang (quang Nam prov) during Nam it was harder to have adequate LZs the golden hour seldom violated technology has improved all of our great Navy Medics gave it 101 % to save lives ,risking their own Semper Fi Navy corpsman as for Nam armour wow flak jacket that a pencil could ounch holes in it 68/69 5th med
2006-10-02 02:43:33 · answer #5 · answered by aldo 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My daughter flew medical evacuation out of Ramstein for the first 3 years of the war. And even she said that the quick response care that our guys are getting is more than just amazing. What she told me was that the casualties would easily double without the quality care that they get. I guess with the IEDs the head injuries are pretty common, and now their are special head trauma teams that fly with these patients.
My daughter now flies out of Kadena AB
2006-10-01 23:39:11 · answer #6 · answered by tom l 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Its scary to think. I read that the chance of getting seriously hurt or killed in Iraq is about 2%, while in Vietnam it was around 50%.
2006-10-01 23:59:12 · answer #7 · answered by Curt 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
A lot of soldiers are amputated and hurt physically or morally for the rest of their lives whether with the new technology or without it , a war makes a lot of sufferings and is not necessary
2006-10-02 00:15:17 · answer #8 · answered by kitty 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
That is a very good question. It's isn't just the treatment techniques that have improved, but with closer scrutiny by the news dweebs, transportation to high-tech medical care is infinitely quicker.
2006-10-01 23:19:32 · answer #9 · answered by Gaspode 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
60% !
The advancements read like science fiction , simply amazing .
Some of it is already on your local ambulance with more coming.
2006-10-02 09:27:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋