Prehospital emergency care : official journal of the National Association of EMS Physicians and the National Association of State EMS Directors
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Pain management in the U. S. Military, particularly in combat, shares many of the same principles found in civilian heath care organizations and institutions. ⋯ Pain management research, education, and treatment strategies have been created to try to achieve adequate battlefield analgesia, and these lessons learned may aid civilian health care providers if the circumstances arise. This article presents a brief history and current overview of pain management for combat casualties on today's battlefield. Recent natural disasters and increased threats for terrorist acts have proven the need for civilian health care providers to be properly trained in pain management principles in an austere or tactical environment.