Predicting casualty evacuation performance for the Canadian land forces command

Abstract

Background: Recent observations and feedback from military operations demonstrated the need to reassess the validity of a fireman's carry (FC) as an assessment of casualty evacuation ability in the Canadian land forces command physical fitness standard. Objective: The objective of this research was to determine: (1) the most common methods of casualty evacuation employed by the Canadian land forces (LF), (2) performance of land forces personnel on casualty evacuation abilities, and (3) potential predictive fitness tests (PFT) for performance on a casualty evacuation task. Methods: Task analysis, interviews, observations, and subject matter experts were used to identify the common casualty evacuation methods. Simulations of these methods were developed and validated. LF members performed these evacuation methods and 7 PFT to their maximum ability (N=118). These data were analyzed using step-wise regression analysis, ANOVA and Pearson product moment correlations. Results: Casualty drag (CD) and vehicle extrication (VE) were found to be the most common methods of casualty evacuation. Males performed significantly better on VE and CD compared to females. CD predicted VE, and the addition of grip strength and static squat performance improved the prediction by 26% to account for 65% of the variability in VE. Of the LF members tested, 88% were able to drag an 82 kg casualty 25 m and 83% succeeded in extricating an 82 kg casualty from a light armored vehicle. Conclusions: It is recommended that the FC be replaced by a 25 m CD. It is not recommended that VE be tested, as it is expected that VE of an 82 kg casualty could be performed by two soldiers; all subjects capable of dragging an 82 kg casualty could also extricate 41 kg.