What is one of the responsibilities of all service members in TCCC?

Identifying and controlling bleeding is a fundamental responsibility of all service members in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC). This is crucial because uncontrolled bleeding is one of the leading preventable causes of death on the battlefield. By recognizing the signs of severe bleeding and being able to apply appropriate interventions—such as applying direct pressure, utilizing tourniquets, or packing wounds—service members can significantly increase the chances of survival for injured personnel.

While performing surgical interventions involves advanced skills usually designated for trained medical personnel, and suppressing hostile enemy fire is primarily a tactical responsibility, recognizing and controlling bleeding is within the capacity of all service members. Additionally, transporting casualties to safety is important, but before that can happen, effective control of bleeding must often be established to stabilize the casualty for movement.