With those in the know saying that the wars of the future are going to be urban[1][2 (PDF)][3], it’s going to be important to address the issues of healthcare on the field. There are just some places where medics can’t go, and the theoretical ideal—one medic per soldier, to provide max. coverage—could never be reached practically. Well, DARPA is developing a bunch of new ways for any given soldier to be his own medic. These new techniques and medicines, &c., would speed up the normal body processes for self-repair. For instance, consider the following. Most of the debilitating injuries that occur on the battlefield are actually relatively minor but take quite a while to heal. Like straining or spraining muscles and other tissues; minor to moderate ocular damage; skin lacerations; burns; frostbite; blunt trauma; and penetrations leading to hemmorhage. All of these problems are being addressed.
Take these examples.
1. A way to control excessive hemorrhaging, shock, and even death rates on the battlefield using a so-called “neural tourniquet.”
2. Controlling internal hemmorhaging with magnetically activated particles that seal a wound nonsurgically or non-invasively.
3. A portable, automatic emergency ventilator (AEV) system that will assess respiratory damage of a soldier and adjust to fit that soldier’s needs.
4. “Photobiomodulation”—a technique and piece of equipment by which to repair retinal tissues that have been lased (damaged by intentional laser fire). Consider the case of pilots who, if lased from the ground, would otherwise not even be able to see to get home. Also, ocular scanning instruments that can diagnose problems and help medics do the same, to see exactly what’s wrong.
5. Wound repair involving highly-oxygenated topical emulsions and electrical stimulation of the wound to accelerate tissue repair.
EASILY one of the most exciting developments, however, is the so-called “pain vaccine.” You know all those stories of Native Americans that could take a number of bullets or arrows beyond the mere mortal because they chewed coca leaves before battles (the selfsame leaves from which crack is derived), or how drug dealers hyped up on crack can take an incredible number of bullets and still come after the cops? Well, consider if they were in their right minds and not on amphetamines—but didn’t feel the pain. That’s right. That has been shown to be the case in rat studies: taking this certain neurotransmitter-inhibiting antibody before or even after onset of pain can reduce the pain that a person experiences by as much as a lethal dose of morphine. Only, they’re not groggy in the least. Incredible.
See the webpage at DARPA or read the 22-page PDF brochure.
