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Soldiers from the 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion from Mattydale,
N.Y., assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa,
taught fellow service members and French military members just that:
how to save a life, limb and/or eyesight during a combat lifesaver
course, June 20-23, 2016.
With support from the HOA Surgeon
Cell, the four day course included 40 hours of instructional and
hands-on training to soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry
Regiment, and a French doctor, nurse and paramedic from the French
military base in Djibouti.
“It's mostly taught to help
prevent the leading causes of injury and death on the battlefield
such as bleeding control, airway management and treating for shock,
hyperthermia, and getting (the patients) to a higher echelon of
care,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Kathleen Green, 403rd CA BA CLS
instructor.
It was also the first time French military
members attended the course to not only learn from the 403rd CA BN
but to share their skill sets.
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Caporal-chef Adjudant, a French military medical officer, uses hand
gestures to communicate with a U.S. servicemember acting as a
simulated casualty during a combat lifesaver course practical exam
June 23, 2016, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The French participants
brought their own medical supplies to show how they treat patients.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Jr.)
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“I think it's great. I'm sorry we don't get to (participate)
more,” said French Capt. Xavier, physician. “At the base, even
though I'm a doctor, I learned a lot about (American) practices and
about what they do in the field. I hope we get to do it again.”
The French team brought their own medical supplies to show how
they treat patients.
“They brought in all of their medical
supplies and showed us how they set up their Individual First Aid
Kit (IFAK) as well as their A-bags,” said Greene. “The physicians
also told us the training they have to do to have their jobs. They
were just a big attribute to this class and taught us a lot about
the French military.”
The course started with a pre-test to
see where students were with their skills then were tested again at
the end of the four days.
“We had a 100% success rate with
the final hands-on skill set and the written (test),” said U.S. Army
Spc. Kristie Richardson, 403rd CA BNCLS instructor. “Nearly half the
class on the first day unfortunately failed (the test), but it just
shows you how much they have learned throughout the four days in
this course and it's amazing.”
There were students with no
medical experience who left with the desire to learn more, said
Richardson.
“A lot of the combat wounds in the field can be prevented and a
lot of deaths can be prevented with tourniquets. A lot of people
have not seen a tourniquet or have used one,” said U.S. Army Spc.
Larry Martinez, 1/124 Inf. Rgt. wheeled vehicle mechanic. “With this
training we learned on tourniquets, dressing, splinting fractures,
and calling in a 9-line (medical evacuation), so if you're ever put
into that position in the field you're better familiarized with
everything you have learned.”
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A student's hand applies a dressing to a simulated victim during a
hands-on portion of a combat lifesaver course taught June 23, 2016,
at Camp Lemonnier Djibouti. The four-day course included 40 hours of
instructional and hands on training to U.S. and French service
members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Jr.)
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The classroom and hands-on training gave the students
critical skills to put in their “tool box” that will
minimize unnecessary deaths and give them the experience and
knowledge to use the supplies in the IFAK, or to improvise
supplies, Greene said.
“I feel very lucky and
fortunate to be an instructor for this course,” said
Richardson. “I think it should be mandated [for] 100% for
the branches. Being here at Camp Lemonnier and [being] able
to provide this course to not just Army like it is in
garrison, we get to provide it not only to marines, sailors,
and airman but also to foreign allies as well.”/p>
By U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tiffany DeNault
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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