🇬🇷🪂 A paratrooper from the Special Paratrooper Unit of the Special Warfare Command makes a smooth landing following a free-fall jump during the multinational NATO Special Operations Forces exercise Trojan Footprint 2026, which is taking place in Greece.
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Αλεξιπτωτιστής του Ειδικού Τμήματος Αλεξιπτωτιστών της Διοίκησης Ειδικού Πολέμου πραγματοποιεί μια ομαλή προσγείωση κατόπιν άλματος ελευθέρας πτώσεως κατά την διάρκεια της πολυεθνικής νατοϊκής άσκησης Ειδικών Δυνάμεων Trojan Footprint 2026, η οποία πραγματοποιείται στην Ελλάδα.
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Source: Sky News
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#TrojanFootprint2026 #SpecialForces #FreeFallJump #NATO #Greece
Uncontrolled bleeding is still a leading cause of preventable death in trauma scenarios. A person can lose a critical amount of blood in minutes, often before emergency services arrive.
During Stop the Bleed Month, CTOMS Academy is offering 40% off online trauma management courses and bundles.
Develop life-saving skills and understanding of physiology with these possible training programs:
* Emergency Bleeding Control
* Advanced Emergency Bleeding Control
* Understanding Trauma
* Basic Tactical Care Provider Bundle
Access the link in the bio to enroll and enhance preparedness.
#ctoms
#stopthebleed
#onlinetraining
#leavenothingtochance
#controlthechaos
🌊 Hope for the best, train for the worst
💥 Sobald eine Insertion oder Extraction über Gewässer führt, sollte eine Notwasserung in der PACE Planung berücksichtigt werden.
💥 Equipment und Ausbildung spielen eine entscheidende Rolle.
‼️ Nicht nur Meere und Ozeane, sondern auch Seen können Gefahren mit sich bringen.
‼️ Technische Fehler, Leitungen, Hindernisse und andere äußere Einflüsse müssen stets berücksichtigt werden.
Hyperthermia doesn’t care how experienced you are.
I’ve personally seen heat crush operational performance more times than I can count. Heavy gear. Long movements. Direct sun. Minimal recovery. Limited resources. People slowly stop functioning before they realize they’re becoming a casualty.
The Journal of Special Operations Medicine 11th Edition PCC/TCCC guidance puts a huge emphasis on prevention for a reason:
- Hydration
- Electrolytes
- Shade
- Cooling
- Continuous monitoring
- Removing heat sources early
One thing I strongly agree with is planning cooling BEFORE someone becomes a casualty.
If possible:
- Have ice on standby
- Build cooling into the mission plan
- Rotate personnel early
- Monitor each other
And if carrying large amounts of supplies isn’t realistic, have every person carry a few cold packs for themselves instead of one medic carrying an entire platoon’s worth of cooling equipment.
Distributed preparation prevents overwhelmed resources.
One line from the guidance that stands out:
“Immediate cooling must be initiated.”
Because hyperthermia kills performance before it kills people.
#TCCC #PCC #JSOM #Hyperthermia #TacticalMedicine
Bridging the Gap: Subclavian Hemorrhage Control
Junctional wounds in the axillary or subclavian zones present a critical challenge when traditional limb tourniquets cannot achieve proximal arterial occlusion.
Here is a clavicular application of the SAM Junctional Tourniquet (SJT). By utilizing a 3-point shoulder harness, the device anchors a specialized Target Compression Device (TCD) directly beneath the bony lip of the clavicle, compressing the high-pressure artery safely against the first rib.
CoTCCC-recommended for junctional hemorrhages in inguinal and axillary zones unamenable to a limb tourniquet.
This device can achieve mechanical hemorrhage control very quickly through a rapid, multi-step application.
Peer-reviewed data tracks its performance at an 87% average occlusion effectiveness rate.
Available at CTOMS.
#CTOMS
#SAMmedical
#stopthebleed
#leavenothingtochance
#controlthechaos
Innovation in the field: A closer look at abdominal and junctional pressure application. Mastering the Abdominal Aortic and Junctional Tourniquet-Stabilized (AAJT-S) means bridging the gap in non-compressible torso hemorrhage.
This device is designed for use in areas where standard extremity tourniquets cannot be applied, such as the axilla, inguinal region, and for mid-abdominal aortic compression. It is also indicated for pelvic fracture stabilization. Proficiency with advanced medical equipment is a critical component of emergency response and trauma care.
The AAJT-S is available at CTOMS.
#ctoms
#stopthebleed
#junctionaltourniquet
#leavenothingtochance
#controlthechaos
The CTOMS Reaper T-Shirt represents the reality of tactical medicine: a constant chess match against the inevitable. When life is on the line, you aren’t just reacting—you’re outmaneuvering. Every intervention is a calculated move to buy more time and control the chaos.
Stay ten moves ahead.
#ctoms
#tshirt
#swag
#leavenothingtochance
#controlthechaos
THE LETHAL DIAMOND: SYSTEMIC METABOLIC COLLAPSE
In severe hemorrhage, survival is a race against physiological failure. Modern data has evolved the “Lethal Triad” into the Lethal Diamond, identifying Hypocalcemia as a critical fourth driver of mortality.
THE FOUR PILLARS OF METABOLIC FAILURE:
HYPOTHERMIA: An enzymatic crisis. Low core temps (<35°C) inhibit the clotting cascade and severely impair platelet aggregation.
ACIDOSIS: Hypoperfusion triggers anaerobic metabolism. As pH drops (<7.35), myocardial contractility weakens and clotting factors are neutralized.
COAGULOPATHY: The “Bloody Vicious Cycle.” Perfusion restoration with Low Titer Whole Blood (LTWOB) and early hemostasis are critical to correcting pH and stopping the bleed.
HYPOCALCEMIA: Ionized calcium (iCa) is the essential cofactor for cardiac contraction and the coagulation cascade.
• The Citrate Trap: In massive transfusion, citrate preservatives bind to iCa. This “theft” can cause pump failure and total coagulopathic arrest.
CLINICAL CONCLUSION:
Single-point insults are compensable; multi-point cascades are irreversible. Intervention must be holistic: Correct pH via perfusion/hemostasis, restore core temp, and proactively manage calcium while monitoring for hypercalcemia.
To learn more, visit CTOMS Academy - and check out Understanding Trauma, Advanced Emergency Bleeding Control, Hypothermia Management, and the Tactical Medical Professional Bundle.
Knowledge is weightless.
Use code STB40 for a discount.
#ctoms
#military
#lawenforcement
#leavenothingtochance
#controlthechaos
May is Stop The Bleed Month.
This year, CTOMS is going to do something a little different. We are going to examine the more advanced aspects of stopping the bleed and solving the problem.
Master the “Why” behind the “How.”
Enroll in the Understanding Trauma course today.
🔗 Link in Bio
Discount Code: STB40
#ctoms
#stopthebleed
#stopthebleedmonth
#leavenothingtochance
#controlthechaos
The Physics of Protection: Cover vs. Concealment 2.0
In terminal ballistics and structural hardening, confusing cover with concealment is a fatal mistake. For professionals in high-threat environments, understanding the scientific limitations of your surroundings is the difference between surviving an engagement and becoming a statistic.
1. CONCEALMENT: The Illusion of Safety
Concealment only breaks your visual outline. While foliage, smoke, or shadows reduce the probability of detection, they offer zero ballistic resistance.
The Modern Threat: In the era of persistent UAS (Drone) surveillance, concealment must be multispectral. If your thermal signature bleeds through the canopy, traditional “hiding” is obsolete. You aren’t hidden if you’re glowing on an IR sensor.
2. COVER: Kinetic Energy Dissipation:
Cover is a physical barrier that absorbs or deflects incoming projectiles by dissipating energy.
However, cover is relative to the weapon system:
Small Arms: Brick and engine blocks may suffice.
HMG/Anti-Material: .50 BMG or 14.5mm rounds use pure mass to cause spalling—turning the inside of your own “cover” into high-velocity fragments.
Armor-Piercing/HEAT: Shaped charges (RPGs) use hyper-velocity physics to jet molten metal through steel.
Heavy Ordnance: 120mm tank rounds treat most civilian structures as mere concealment.
3. FIELDCRAFT 2.0: The Modern Synthesis
The rise of FPV drones and loitering munitions has changed the game.
You must now integrate both simultaneously:
Overhead Protection: Vertical walls are useless against top-down strikes. You need “hard overhead cover” for kinetic resistance and “thermal masking” to prevent target locking.
Signature Management: Drones look for geometric anomalies. If your position has hard, artificial edges, it’s a target. Blend the textures of your concealment into the strength of your cover.
SUMMARY: Every barrier has a breaking point. Move strategically, mask your signature, and never trust a thin wall with your life.
#ctoms
#military
#lawenforcement
#leavenothingtochance
#controlthechaos
Protect what matters most: The Thoracic Box
The most common—and potentially fatal—mistake we see in the field is plates sagging too low. If your front plate is sitting near your belly button, you aren’t “protecting your vitals”—you’re trading life-saving coverage for perceived comfort. In a high-stress environment, millimeters matter.
As this anatomical overlay illustrates, your plate carrier is not just a weight vest; it is a shield for your “cardiac box.” This region contains the heart, the lungs, and the great vessels (the aorta and vena cava). A round to the upper chest is far more difficult to treat in the field than a lower abdominal wound.
The Gold Standard for Fitment:
1️⃣ High Coverage (Front): The top edge of your front plate must align with your suprasternal notch (the soft “V” at the base of your throat). If you can feel the bone of your sternum above your plate, you are exposed. It should be centered on the mid-clavicular line to ensure both lungs are shielded.
2️⃣ Vertical Alignment (Back): The rear plate is often the most neglected. It should mirror the front’s height, sitting roughly one inch (or two vertebrae) below the prominent C7 vertebra. This ensures your upper thoracic spine and the “high” portion of your lungs are covered from the rear.
3️⃣ The “Bend” Rule: Your plates should terminate approximately 2 to 3 inches above your navel while standing. This protects the liver and spleen while still allowing you to bend at the waist, sit in a vehicle, or transition into a prone position without the carrier shifting or “choking” you.
4️⃣ Tension is Key: A loose plate is a moving target. Your cummerbund should be tight enough to prevent the plates from oscillating while you run, but not so tight that it restricts deep diaphragmatic breathing.
It’s not about comforta - it is protection. Dial in your ride height, secure your straps, and ensure your kit is mission-ready before you cross the line of departure.
#ctoms
#military
#lawenforcement
#leavenothingtochance
#controlthechaos
