When evacuating a casualty, what is the highest priority?

The highest priority when evacuating a casualty is the safety of both the casualty and the medical personnel involved. This principle is foundational in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) as it ensures that while providing necessary medical attention and evacuation, the risks associated with the environment—such as enemy fire or other hazards—are adequately managed.

Ensuring safety helps prevent further injury to the casualty and protects the medical personnel, who must remain effective and able to provide care. An unsafe evacuation could potentially lead to additional casualties, thereby complicating the situation and compromising overall mission success.

While efficiency, gathering detailed information about the injury, and minimizing time spent at the scene are all important factors in the evacuation process, they must be subordinate to ensuring safety. Efficient and rapid evacuation can only be achieved if the individuals involved can operate without undue risk. Therefore, prioritizing safety builds a solid foundation for all other actions taken during the evacuation, ensuring that care is holistic and effective.