Photo By Sgt. Daniel Haun | Soldiers from the 369th Combat Support Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico, conduct...... read more read more
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By Pvt. 1st Class Daniel Haun
300th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SCHOONOVER, Calif. – "Hand over hand; shove them in," Staff Sgt. Paul R. Buettner said.
Buettner, a crew chief with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment from Mather, Calif., wasn't talking about loading ordinary cargo.
His audience Monday was a group of medics with the 369th Combat Support Hospital from San Juan, Puerto Rico, who were practicing loading wounded patients for evacuation on a Black Hawk helicopter.
One small misstep or lack of attention would jar the litter and potentially injure the patient more. Buettner used repeated rehearsals to prepare the trainees for the stress of litter carries with the rotor blades revolving at break-neck speeds above them.
"When we start turning the rotor blades it's going to be really loud, so you're going to have to yell loud or use hand signals," he said.
"If you do not have eye protection, when we land turn your back to be away from it. As soon as we land we're going to go flat pitch and take some of the rotor wash out."
The dust and debris are another hazard to the patient.
"At first you may want to look away, (but) be cognizant of dust. It's important, whoever your patient is, to try and cover them and somehow shield them from all the dust that's coming," said Buettner.
Debris flew through the air like shrapnel; Soldiers crouched under the rotor blades as they transported the litter hand over hand into the chopper as instructed.
The hatch closed and the patient was secured. The chopper hovered, piercing the cloudless sky. After a series of banking maneuvers the chopper returned for further drills.
The dust later settled, along with the adrenaline of the Soldiers.
The medics said they appreciated the hands-on approach to the exercise.
"It's my first real life action training; it was exciting," said Spc. Yaritza Lopez, a medic. "I've never had a helicopter in front of me before."
Lopez, who has not yet been deployed, said she wanted to be ready, and hands on training is the perfect prescription.
"I've learned here what I'm going to see over there, that way I'm not going to be surprised," she said.
| Date Taken: | 06.11.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.12.2008 11:05 |
| Story ID: | 20383 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 145 |
| Downloads: | 102 |
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