Which intervention is specifically recommended during the Care Under Fire (CUF) phase?

During the Care Under Fire (CUF) phase, the primary focus is to ensure the safety of both the medic and the casualty while also stopping life-threatening hemorrhage as quickly as possible. The use of a limb tourniquet placed "high and tight" is specifically recommended during this phase because it can effectively control severe bleeding from extremity wounds, particularly when immediate evacuation is not possible due to ongoing threats in the environment.

Applying a tourniquet at a high level, meaning as close to the torso as possible, and ensuring it is tight enough to occlude arterial blood flow is essential for saving the life of a casualty. This method is prioritized in CUF as it can be applied quickly and can be done with minimal exposure to danger.

Other interventions, although important in different phases of care, are not as critical during CUF. Applying pressure dressings or packing wounds typically requires a more stable environment and may not be practical when under fire, where rapid, effective measures are necessary to secure the casualty’s safety and minimize blood loss. Administering intravenous fluids is generally not prioritized during the CUF phase as it does not address the immediate threat of fatal hemorrhage and may distract from life-saving interventions that are needed right away.