During which phase of TCCC should you conduct a thorough trauma assessment?

In the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) framework, a thorough trauma assessment should be conducted during the Tactical Field Care phase. This phase occurs after the immediate battlefield threats have been mitigated and it's safe for the medic to evaluate the patient's condition more comprehensively.

During Tactical Field Care, the medic has the opportunity to perform a systematic evaluation of the casualty's injuries, establish priorities based on the severity of those injuries, and initiate appropriate interventions. This allows for targeted management of life-threatening conditions, such as airway obstruction, severe hemorrhage, and tension pneumothorax, while also addressing other potentially serious injuries.

This phase is distinct from the Care Under Fire phase, where the focus is primarily on getting the casualty out of immediate danger and providing rapid treatment if feasible. In contrast, Pre-hospital Care encompasses a broader range of care that may occur outside the tactical environment, and Tactical Evacuation Care focuses on providing care during transport to a higher level of care. Therefore, the Tactical Field Care phase is specifically designed for thorough assessments and interventions, establishing it as the correct context for conducting a comprehensive trauma assessment.