The Combat Trauma Life Support course: resource-constrained first responder trauma care for Special Forces medics.

Objective: In response to advances in civilian trauma care and changing military priorities, the United Kingdom Special Forces (SF) community undertook a complete review of its medical support in 1992 and developed a mission-orientated prehospital trauma care program known as the Combat Trauma Life Support (CTLS) program.

Methods: The course was developed dynamically, using a faculty of civilian trauma experts and military doctors to allow both medical and military doctrine to be included.

Results: Three scenarios were developed to cover all aspects of SF operations and civilian hospital practice.