Courtesy Photo | CAMP TAJI, Iraq-Pfc. Chris Harrington concentrates on Spc. Dustan Boyd's arm as he...... read more read more
Spc. Jennifer D. Atkinson
Aviation Brigade PAO
CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- With rapidly changing front lines on a highly-mobile battlefield, the Army's Combat Lifesaver program has become a crucial part in increasing the level of medical treatment on the ground or in the air.
For the Aviation Brigade, increasing the number of CLS-trained Soldiers provides better support to air crews and ground forces the brigade supports on a daily basis.
Fast and highly-skilled medical support is available to ground units, through either their own medics or medevac units. However, if units are moving fast, or are farther forward than their support elements, the number of medics can be limited.
With large numbers of injured Soldiers at any given site, a medic may be stretched very thin, so Combat Lifesavers act as a bridge between the standard self-aid or buddy-aid training each Soldier is familiar with and the more in-depth treatment offered by a combat medic.
The Aviation Bde. recently completed its first full CLS certification class at Camp Taji.
CLS-trained Soldiers provide emergency care as a secondary mission and do not replace combat medics. Since CLS-qualified Soldiers aren't medics by training, everything they do is 'to the point, and specific to trauma," said Sgt. 1st Class James D. Rolon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Aviation Bde. medic.
The CLS training teaches Soldiers to deal with "more immediate problems, like falls, vehicle accidents or gunshot wounds," said Spc. Glen B. Ordinario, a medic with HHC, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment (Attack Reconnaissance). "They're not looking for heart attacks or allergic reaction, or anything chronic."
Ordinario and Rolon recently led 31 Aviation Bde. Soldiers through three days of intense training, starting with the basics of buddy aid, moving through patient assessment and into more advanced life-saving techniques. During the training, written tests measured the student's grasp of the book-taught material, while practical exercises allowed them to put their new skills into practice.
The first day of class focused on refreshing and building Soldiers" buddy-aid skills, such as splinting, controlling bleeding, and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Soldiers also learned how to do an abbreviated battlefield patient assessment.
"Learning the right sequence for the assessment is pretty tough," since it's a bit different from the buddy-aid evaluation, Rolon said.
During scenarios designed to simulate the casualties found in the battlefield environment, Soldiers are also taught more advanced procedures.
Soldiers use a mannequin during the teaching scenarios, especially with complex procedures such as re-inflating a collapsed lung with a needle, Rolon said.
On the second day of class, the mannequins are put to the side for the most infamous part of the CLS class: the IV section. Students practiced inserting needles into plastic IV tubing stretched across a table.
For the practical exercise, the class was split in half. Each section crowded around one of the two instructors, and watched with wide eyes.
Ordinario walked through the procedure for finding a good vein, including how to figure out the best vein to use and how to use a constricting band to help plump up smaller veins.
On the other end of the room, Rolon showed his technique to figure out which vein to use and how to clean the site. Ending with instructions on how to control the plastic catheter and secure the tubing, both instructors made the procedure look easy.
After the block of instruction, students were paired up, supplies were set out and the class held its collective breath.
"Okay, you've got to do this today, so let me know when you think you're ready," Rolon said as he walked between the two rows of students.
"This is harder than it looks," said Sgt. Melissa Crawford, D Company, 3rd Bn., 3rd Aviation Reg., as she tried to get a good line set up on Spc. Gilbert Palmer, D Co., 3/3 ARB. After several tries, Crawford had to stop to let Palmer rest for a few minutes.
"Sticking another Soldier with a needle is the hardest part for most of these guys," Rolon said.
On the third day, everything is reviewed and the students are tested again. After Soldiers have passed all the practical exercises and the written tests, they are certified Combat Lifesavers, ready to step up to help their fellow Soldiers if needed.
| Date Taken: | 11.25.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 11.25.2005 17:09 |
| Story ID: | 3870 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 124 |
| Downloads: | 54 |
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