What is the leading cause of preventable death in combat trauma?

Massive hemorrhage is recognized as the leading cause of preventable death in combat trauma situations. In tactical environments, injuries can lead to severe bleeding, which, if not addressed quickly, can result in shock and death within minutes. The ability to identify and control bleeding through techniques such as direct pressure, tourniquets, or hemostatic dressings is critical for combat medics and corpsmen.

While airway trauma and obstruction, tension pneumothorax, and shock from blood loss are serious issues that can impede survival, they typically do not result in death as rapidly as massive hemorrhage does. A trained responder must prioritize stops to uncontrolled bleeding first, as rapidly controlling hemorrhage significantly improves the chances of survival for combat casualties.