Overall, the combat lifesaving in America's Army 3 is very easy. To open the menu, simply hold the spacebar down and a menu should pop up.



This menu will tell you their most severe symptoms and give you a list of options to treat them.

Move your mouse in the direction of the proper treatment and then click to revive them.

NOTE: Make sure you get the correct treatment! If you don't, you will spend your IFAK (Improved First Aid Kit) and be unable to treat your teammates!


From this point on it is even easier (you just hold space and it will bandage their gunshot wounds).





Now, let's get into the symptoms and treatments!

Symptom: Pale Skin

Treatment: Ammonia Inhalants ("Smelling Salts")

Why?: Although the game does not go into detail with this, Smelling Salts are used to revive someone who has passed out due to oxygen loss, pain, etc. The ammonia fumes from the salts irritate the the nose and lungs, which forces a reflex causing the muscles that control breathing to work faster. The more oxygen the patient takes in, the better chance they will return to consciousness.


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Symptom: Shallow Breathing

Treatment: Oropharyngeal Airway or "OPA"

Why: When a person goes unconscious, muscles in their jaw relax and can allow the tongue to obstruct the airway. This device forces an open airway by preventing the tongue from covering the epiglottis and by maintining a solid airway (the plastic tube) even if the throat begins to swell.




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Symptom: Weak Pulse

Treatment: Intravenous Saline Drip (or "Saline" in-game)

Why: I have been told by a few players that are eager to become real EMT's/Medics/CLS' that this doesn't quite make sense for the treatment of "Weak Pulse". Saline is frequently used in hospitals/ambulances/combat lifesaving by intravenously supplying extra water to rehydrate patients who are unable to do so themselves. To help people better understand why this would be used in these combat situations: If the patient is suffering from hypovolemia (commonly refered to as a class of "Shock") - they have decreased blood volume and circulation. By giving saline to the patient, the blood can circulate easier and, additionally, help replenish some fluid lost (in this case due to hemorrhaging.)


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Symptom: Labored Movement

Treatment: Splint

Why: The point of a splint is to support and protect a body part that has been broken or injured (such as sprains and fractures). By stopping or limiting the movement of the limb (ie, a leg with a bullet wound) and applying what is essentially a half-cast, the leg has less "Give" to it (pressure redirected to the splint) and, as such, the leg is able to heal faster and pain is generally reduced. An additional benefit of a splint is that the medic can readjust it if you suffer swelling, etc. after the initial injury.

A more simplistic list for reference while in combat:

Symptom: Pale Skin

Treatment: Ammonia Inhalants ("Smelling Salts")

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Symptom: Shallow Breathing

Treatment: Oropharyngeal Airway or "OPA"

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Symptom: Weak Pulse

Treatment: Intravenous Saline Drip (or "Saline" in-game)

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Symptom: Labored Movement

Treatment: Splint