What is the most common cause of preventable death on the battlefield?

Uncontrolled hemorrhage is recognized as the most common cause of preventable death on the battlefield. This is largely due to the nature of combat injuries, which often result in significant blood loss from traumatic wounds. Effective management of hemorrhage is critical; field medics and combat lifesavers are trained to quickly identify and control bleeding using methods such as applying tourniquets, packing wounds with hemostatic agents, or using pressure dressings.

The rapid response to uncontrolled bleeding can dramatically improve a casualty's chances of survival. Research and battlefield data have consistently shown that timely intervention to stop blood loss significantly lowers the risk of death from traumatic injuries. While respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, and traumatic brain injury are serious and can be fatal, they generally do not occur as frequently as uncontrolled hemorrhage in the context of combat situations. Therefore, prioritizing the identification and management of hemorrhage is essential in tactical combat casualty care.