In the Care under fire phase, what is the priority for the medic?

During the Care under fire phase, the primary focus for the medic is to ensure their own safety while also protecting the safe environment for any potential casualties. The situation is inherently dangerous due to ongoing threats, and medics must be aware of their surroundings to avoid becoming additional victims in a chaotic environment.

In this phase, self-preservation is critical because if the medic becomes a casualty, they will not be able to provide care or assist others. Therefore, while there may be a call to provide immediate medical aid or assess the casualty as quickly as possible, these actions cannot be safely performed without first mitigating the threats present.

Thus, returning fire and ensuring their own safety is prioritized to enable the medic to transition to the next phases of care once the immediate danger has been addressed. This strategy aligns with tactical combat casualty care principles, which emphasize securing safety before administering medical interventions.