What is the leading preventable cause of death on the battlefield?

Bleeding, particularly from an extremity, is considered the leading preventable cause of death on the battlefield due to its potential severity and the speed with which it can lead to death if not addressed promptly. In combat situations, traumatic injuries often result in significant blood loss. If this hemorrhaging is not controlled quickly, it can lead to hypovolemic shock and ultimately result in death.

Immediate interventions, such as applying direct pressure, using tourniquets, or packing wounds, can effectively stop or slow the bleeding, which directly increases the chances of survival. This concept is reinforced in military medical training, where the emphasis is placed on rapid response to control bleeding as a critical life-saving measure.

In contrast, while infections and shock from trauma can certainly complicate battlefield injuries and affect morbidity, they do not pose as immediate a threat as uncontrolled bleeding. Gunshot wounds can lead to bleeding, but they themselves do not directly quantify the risk of hemorrhage without considering the extent of the injury and resultant blood loss. Hence, the training for Combat Life Savers prioritizes the management of hemorrhage as a cornerstone of trauma care in combat scenarios.