Parameters:
(1) wounded in action (WIA)
(2) killed in action (KIA) = deaths before reaching a medical treatment facility (MTF)
(3) died of wounds (DOW) = death after reaching a MTF = admitted or hospitalized but died
(4) admitted or hospitalized and survived
(5) return to duty within 72 hours (RTD) = minor wounds
(6) total number of combatants
total number of casualties =
= (number killed in action) + (number wounded in action)
number wounded in action =
= (return to duty in 72 hours) + (admitted or hospitalized and survived) + (admitted or hospitalized and died of wounds)
case fatality rate = CFR =
= ((number killed in action) + (number died of wounds)) / ((number killed in action) + (number wounded in action)) * 100%
percent killed in action =
= (deaths before reaching MTF) / (all combat casualties) * 100%
percent died of wounds =
= (deaths after reaching MTF) / (total number of casualties admitted or hospitalized) *100%
where:
• The percent KIA and percent DOW cannot be combined to give the case fatality rate since the denominators are different.
• The return to duty (RTD) may be subtracted from all combat casualties to limit the analysis to significant injuries.
• Missing in action are not included in the statistics but are recorded separately.
• A person who dies of wounds months or years later may be hard to classify.
Interpretation:
• A high percentage of soldiers killed in action may reflect lethal conflict or poor evacuation of the wounded.
• A high percent of soldiers who die of wounds may reflect more serious wounds or poor medical services.
Limitations:
• As indicated in Exhibit 1-1, page 15, Bellamy (1995) different rates can be generated depending on which data is included or excluded.
