The Impact Of Military Medicine On Civilians

Post date: Mar 07, 2018 12:37:40 PM

Military medicine undoubtedly serves not only service personnel but also their families and other civilians. Breakthroughs achieved on the battlefield have had benefits on the day-to-day medical issues people face. While significant medical advancements were made to protect the troops, these, too, have an impact on civilians.

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Military medical personnel are trained to give the highest level of care under the most difficult circumstances. These trained professionals are quick to recognize and attend to critical injuries in the battlefield with the use of advanced procedures and technologies. The impact of military medicine on civilians doesn't stop at triages. Innovations in strategies to save limbs are already being included into civilian practices, especially during the Boston bombing, where the triage efforts of military medics, medical technicians, and paramedics helped prevent death and ensured those injured made it to the hospital within the golden hour.

The research of the military with regard to helping service members with lost limbs has resulted in more functional prosthetics that enhance the quality of life for all amputees. One latest breakthrough that is set to come out of the military is an artificial arm and hand which is controlled by the brain. The military also helps in the discovery of new vaccines, which in the past has helped safeguard generations of people.

Their research efforts have also assisted in the development of blood-clotting products, robotic exoskeletons, spray-on skin to repair burns, surgery directed by robots, and new techniques to attend to traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Captain Martin Sanders, Ph.D., is an officer in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). His field of expertise includes biological safety, field medical operations, biosecurity, occupational safety and health, infectious disease epidemiology, environmental health services, and occupational health and wellness programs. For similar articles, click here.