If you’ve ever said “We’ll just set up a walking blood bank when we need it,” this episode will make you rethink everything. Dennis and Andrew Fisher drop straight fire on how to actually build, stock, train, and run a real walking blood bank on a FOB, Firebase, or any austere base — not just theory, but the exact steps special operators and conventional medics are using right now to save lives when the next mass casualty hits.

No fluff. No “somebody else will handle it.” Just battle-tested, practical guidance on turning your team (and the units around you) into a living blood bank that can deliver fresh whole blood in under 30 minutes.

Key Takeaways You Can Use Tomorrow

• Pre-type every donor (especially O’s) and keep the roster with key leaders and medics — Medpros + secondary confirmation beats dog tags every time.
• Distribute kits across the team so one casualty doesn’t wipe out all your supplies.
• Practice full collections with non-medics — they can (and will) be your force multipliers.
• Have donor questionnaires filled out in advance for anyone outside your unit; do Eldon cards in calm conditions, never under fire.
• Plan for 20–30 minutes from alert to transfusion — that window dictates how long you have to bridge with other resuscitation tools.
• Principles over perfection: good stick + patent line + practiced team beats fancy equipment every single time.

Chapters

• 00:00 – Welcome & Why Most Walking Blood Banks Stay TheoreticalThe dangerous gap between “we have a plan” and actually practicing it.
• 02:30 – Preferred Blood & ABO Typing Your Entire ForceLow-titer O whole blood, Medpros screening, lab vs. Eldon cards, and why you double-type.
• 08:45 – Eldon Cards: When They Work (and When They Don’t)Calm pre-mission testing vs. chaos — real talk on reliability.
• 13:20 – Supplies & Logistics: Bags, Kits, Refrigeration & Cold ChainFenwal vs. Terumo, how many kits to order, and smart storage hacks.
• 19:10 – Point-of-Injury Kits & Load DistributionWhat medics carry, what teammates carry under plates, and spreading risk.
• 24:40 – IV Technique, Saline Locks & Point-of-Care TestingWhy 18-gauge + PRN adapter wins, donor screening, and host-nation considerations.
• 31:15 – Donor Questionnaires & Pre-ScreeningWhen to use them, multilingual options, and why you do this before the fight.
• 35:50 – Selling It to Commanders & Multi-Unit CoordinationRisk-benefit talk that actually works: mutual support, 100+ years of history, and 10,000+ units transfused.
• 41:20 – Real Timelines: 20–30 Minutes from Call to TransfusionTraining goals, the 15-minute bag-fill rule, and why practice beats classroom speed.
• 47:30 – Closing Principles & Final ThoughtsForce multiplication, non-medics stepping up, and adapting under pressure.

Whether you’re ODA, Ranger, conventional, or just preparing for the next deployment — this is the episode that turns “we should do a walking blood bank” into “here’s exactly how we’re doing it.”

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“Nothing gets easier in flight.”That single line from today’s guest says it all. Dennis is joined by Rich — SOF medic and flight medicine veteran — for a no-fluff masterclass on preparing patients for rotary-wing, ground, or even submarine evacuation. From rotor wash nightmares to 48-hour critical care handovers, this episode is pure gold for medics who want their patients to survive the bird, not just board it.

Whether you’re a ground medic with 30 seconds to hand off or a flight crew managing vents at altitude, these lessons will tighten your game, cut preventable errors, and keep aircraft off the deck longer than they need to be.

KEY TAKEAWAYS YOU CAN USE TOMORROW

• Accurate MIST saves airframes and lives — over-triage or fake intel has real consequences.
• Document what the flight medic can’t see (drugs, last dose/time, hidden injuries).
• Get access and secure everything on the ground — nothing magically gets easier at 500 feet and 120 knots.
• Stage 5–10 minutes early when possible. Headspace + rehearsed handover beats chaos every time.
• Redundancy is king in prolonged/critical care handovers: bring backups to the backups.
• Trend vitals and nursing care — clean the patient, position them, prevent DVT, manage contamination.
• Know your receiving asset — a vented patient handed to someone who’s never touched one is now your problem again.
• Balance speed vs. life-saving interventions — don’t skip a finger thoracostomy just because the bird is 30 seconds out.

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 – Welcome back to the PFC Podcast
• 00:06 – Introducing Rich: soft medic & flight medicine expert
• 01:44 – The brutal environment of rotary-wing medicine (lost senses, airspace surveillance, cable chaos)
• 04:08 – Classic ground-medic mistakes (and how to stop making them)
• 06:24 – Why accurate MIST actually matters (and how bad intel wastes lives & airframes)
• 09:05 – The moped-vs-gunfight story every medic needs to hear
• 13:55 – Standard aircraft loadout + what “special equipment” really means
• 17:39 – Bare-minimum documentation when rotors are inbound (what to write in 30 seconds)
• 20:02 – Handover acronyms that actually work (MIST vs. CIT-D + physical pointing trick)
• 22:28 – Trust but verify: how flight medics reassess once the patient is aboard
• 24:28 – Why ground access & securing lines is non-negotiable
• 26:45 – Staging early, litter drills, and not racing to the rotor wash
• 30:40 – Prolonged field care → critical care transport handovers
• 31:30 – Is the patient ever “too unstable” to fly? (battlefield reality check)
• 34:41 – Prepping the patient like you’re handing off an ICU bed
• 37:08 – Self-evac gear philosophy: treat the patient as if nothing was done yet
• 41:32 – Pain management in the air — when to bump vs. load long-acting
• 44:31 – Monitoring in flight (what still works when your senses are gone)
• 46:58 – Over-optimizing for transport: trending, nursing care, contamination control
• 49:25 – Know who you’re handing off to (and why it matters for the truck ride)
• 49:58 – Outro & resources

For more content go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.prolongedfieldcare.org

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This interview with Aryna, a tactical medic with extensive experience in Ukraine, explores the rapid evolution of battlefield medicine amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Topics include changes in medic training, gear, drone warfare, blood transfusions, and prolonged field care.

This podcast was recorded in partnership with Leleka Foundation, an American-Ukrainian charitable initiative committed to helping frontline medics in Ukraine save lives. This project creates a vital platform for Ukrainian frontline medics to share firsthand trauma care experience from the battlefield with their American counterparts, strengthening knowledge exchange.

Key topics

Changes in medic training due to war dynamics

Impact of drone warfare on medical evacuation

Advancements in blood transfusion techniques in combat

Prolonged field care and long-term casualty management

Gear and vehicle protection improvements for medics

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tactical Medicine and Personal Background

06:04 Adapting to Modern Warfare: Drones and Medical Evacuations

11:59 Prolonged Field Care: Challenges and Strategies

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In this episode of the PFC Podcast, Noel discusses the complexities and challenges of maritime medicine, emphasizing the importance of training, knowledge, and operational flexibility. He shares insights from his extensive experience, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the ocean and the necessity of effective communication and integration with host nation partners. Noel advocates for a focus on practical training and the need for a forward-thinking approach to tackle operational challenges in a collaborative manner.

Takeaways

• Courage in the absence of fear is stupidity.
• Training should focus on knowledge, not just equipment.
• The ocean's unpredictability complicates operations.
• Effective communication is crucial in maritime environments.
• Over-planning can lead to operational failures.
• Training is essential for operational success.
• Integrating with host nation partners enhances effectiveness.
• Technology should be a last resort solution.
• Operational flexibility is key in dynamic environments.
• A joint effort is necessary for tackling complex challenges.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Context of the Mission

02:53 Challenges in Maritime Operations

05:38 Operational Planning and Flexibility

08:30 Communication Strategies in Maritime Environments

11:15 Training and Integration with Host Nation Partners

14:12 Operational Autonomy and Cross-Training

16:50 Emphasizing Training Over Technology

19:25 Conclusion and Call to Action

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This presentation was recorded during SOMSA '25. Register now to get your spot for SOMSA '26.

https://specialoperationsmedicine.org/soma-2026/

This conversation highlights a harrowing experience of combat medics during a mission, detailing the challenges faced during a life-threatening incident. The speakers share their personal accounts of injury, rescue, and the critical medical response that followed. They emphasize the importance of teamwork, humor, and training in high-stress situations, as well as the emotional and physical toll of such experiences. The discussion also touches on lessons learned for future operations and the significance of mental health in recovery.

Takeaways

The importance of highlighting the care delivered by medics in combat.

Humor can be a vital tool in high-stress medical situations.

Immediate response and teamwork are crucial in life-threatening scenarios.

Training and preparedness can significantly impact outcomes in emergencies.

The emotional toll of trauma affects both patients and medics.

Effective communication is essential during medical emergencies.

Cross-training among team members enhances operational effectiveness.

Understanding the patient's perspective can improve care.

The role of advocacy and support in recovery is critical.

Future training should focus on pain management and patient comfort.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Heroism in Combat Medicine

02:46 The Incident: A Life-Altering Explosion

05:00 Immediate Response: Rescue and Treatment

08:06 The Journey to Safety: Evacuation Challenges

10:52 Reflections on Pain and Recovery

13:50 Lessons Learned: Training and Preparedness

16:39 The Role of Humor in High-Stress Situations

19:39 Final Thoughts and Future Improvements

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Discover key insights on medical evacuation and combat experiences from Maria Litha, a combat medic. Learn how to handle critical situations under fire and improve emergency response strategies.

In a world where the realities of war often remain hidden, the experiences of those on the front lines reveal critical lessons that can save lives. In this post, we dive into the insights shared by Maria Litha, a combat medic who has been on the front lines since 2022, as she recounts her experiences in medical evacuation and the challenges faced in high-stress environments.

The Reality of Medical Evacuations

One of the most critical aspects of battlefield medicine is the evacuation process. Maria highlights the importance of understanding the environment in which evacuations take place. Conditions can vary significantly depending on the location and intensity of conflict.

Case Study: Evacuating Leonid

Maria recounts a harrowing case involving a patient named Leonid, who suffered a severe injury after stepping on a mine. After enduring 12 hours in a precarious position, he was finally evacuated under the cover of darkness. The challenges faced during this evacuation included:

- Massive blood loss: Leonid required immediate attention due to his condition.

- Road conditions: The evacuation vehicle had to navigate bombed-out and rugged terrain, complicating the medical team's efforts.

- Limited resources: With only one bottle of plasma available, the team had to carefully manage Leonid’s care without exacerbating his injuries.

Challenges Faced by Combat Medics

Combat medics like Maria often face unique challenges that require quick thinking and adaptability. Some of the key issues include:

- Drone and artillery threats: Medics must constantly be aware of their surroundings to avoid being targeted while providing care.

- Equipment limitations: The unstable environment can render medical monitors ineffective, making it difficult to gauge a patient's condition accurately.

- Time constraints: Evacuations must often be conducted rapidly, where every second counts.

Strategies for Effective Evacuations

To improve the success of medical evacuations, Maria shares several strategies:

- Preparation: Understanding the layout of the battlefield and potential threats is crucial for planning safe evacuation routes.

- Team coordination: Effective communication and teamwork can enhance the efficiency of care during emergencies.

- Utilizing technology: Employing drone detection systems and other technological aids can help medics stay safe while performing their duties.

Key Takeaways

- Adaptability is vital: Each evacuation scenario presents its own unique challenges that require quick adjustments.

- Collaboration is essential: Working closely with team members ensures that all aspects of patient care are addressed effectively.

-Continuous learning: Combat medics must stay updated on new techniques and technologies to improve their response in the field.

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