How often should reassessments of the casualty’s condition be performed during TCCC?

Reassessing a casualty's condition is critical in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) as it helps to identify any changes in the patient's status that may require immediate intervention. Performing reassessments every 5-15 minutes allows medical personnel to actively monitor the patient's response to treatments and detect any deterioration or improvement in their condition.

This frequency is particularly important for unstable patients who may require more frequent monitoring to address any sudden complications, such as changes in vital signs or the emergence of new symptoms. Conversely, more stable patients may not need as frequent check-ins but should still be reassessed within the specified timeframe to ensure they remain stable.

Other options, such as reassessing every 30 minutes or once upon arrival at the treatment facility, do not provide adequate oversight to detect potential changes in the casualty's condition in a timely manner. Similarly, a reassessment interval of every 1-2 hours could lead to missed critical developments in a patient who might be unstable, hence delaying necessary interventions. Keeping the assessment window tighter allows medical providers to make more informed decisions and adjust treatment plans based on real-time data about the patient's health status.