Marine Anesthesia

No, Not underwater anesthesia, but a comparison. The Marine Rules for gunfighting can be found in a number of spots on the web...Here they are, followed by my Anesthetic Rules of Engagement....

Marine Corps Rules for Gun Fighting
1.Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns.
2. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive
3. Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.
4. If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough nor using cover correctly.
5. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral and diagonal movement are preferred.)
6. If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a long gun and a friend with a long gun.
7. In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.
8. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating, reloading, and running.
9. Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting standards will be more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy of the gun.
10. Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.
11. Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.
12. Have a plan.
13. Have a back-up plan, because the first one won't work.
14. Use cover or concealment as much as possible.
15. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.
16. Don't drop your guard.
17. Always tactical load and threat scan 360 degrees.
18. Watch their hands. Hands kill. In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them.
19. Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.
20. The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.
21. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
22. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.
23. Your number one option for personal security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.
24. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun, the caliber of which does not start with a "4."

Anes Rules for Engagement
1. Bring an IV. Preferably, bring at least two IVs. Bring all of your friends who have IVs.
2. Anything worth a liter of fluid is worth two. Crystalloid is cheap. Life is expensive
3. Only working IV’s count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.
4. If your sterile technique is good, you're probably not moving fast enough.
5. Move away from bodily fluids. Latex is your friend. Follow Universal substance precautions
6. If you can choose what to bring to a trauma call, bring a big IV and a friend with an ETT.
7. In ten years nobody will remember the details of IV gauge, location, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.
8. If you are not managing fluids or airway, you should be communicating, restocking, and running.
9. Accuracy is relative: most drug dosing standards will be more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent factors of the drug.
10. Someday someone may kill your patient with an IV, but they should have to beat him to death with it, not cause an air embolism because the IV is empty.
11. Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.
12. Have a plan.
13. Have a back-up plan, because the first one won't work.
14. Use cover or concealment as much as possible. Always wear gloves, mask, & glasses.
15. If one approach to an IV or drug doesn’t work, try another.
16. Don't drop your guard.
17. Always check IVs, drugs and scan monitors 360 degrees.
18. Watch the surgeon’s hands. Hands kill. In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them.
19. Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.
20. The faster you finish the code, the more sleep you will get.
21. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to resuscitate everyone you meet.
22. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.
23. Your number one option for personal security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.
24. Do not attend a trauma code with a IV, the caliber of which does not start with a "14."