Corpsmen conduct egress, casualty training

Photo By Lance Cpl. Ian McMahon | Corpsmen prioritize and treat simulated casualties at a collection point during a training event at Camp Hansen Aug. 29. “The purpose of the collection point is to stabilize (casualties) and determine which are priority cases,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Demetrio C. Pineda, a corpsman with 3rd Med. Bn., CLR-35, 3rd MLG, III MEF.  

AICHI, JAPAN

08.29.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Brianna Christensen 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

AICHI, Japan - Four service members shake off the haze and quickly come to the realization they have been in a rollover. There is a brief moment of fear, but thanks to a specialized trainer at Camp Hansen, that fear will be trumped by experience.

Corpsmen with 3rd Medical Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, conducted Humvee egress and casualty assessment training at Camp Hansen Aug. 29.

The purpose of the training was to ensure the corpsmen are able to properly egress a Humvee, assess casualties, and treat injuries in the event of a rollover.

“The Humvee egression assistance trainer is essential to us because as corpsmen and Marines we are constantly in Humvees,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Michael W. Duffy, the assistant leading petty officer with the battalion. “We combined this trainer with four other training stations to practice for real-world situations.”

Prior to the training, the corpsmen received instruction on how to safely use the trainer.

“We spent the morning learning the fundamentals of exiting a rolled Humvee, security procedures after exiting, and carrying a casualty,” said Duffy.

During the training, they entered the trainer, a device that simulates a rollover. Once the simulator stopped, they exited the inverted vehicle and assessed casualties sustained during the simulated crash.

The mock casualties received first aid for any serious injuries and were moved to a casualty collection point. As soon as the priority cases were identified and stabilized, they were taken to the shock-trauma familiarization area.

“The purpose of the shock-trauma area is to stabilize (casualties) and determine which are priority cases to be sent to a hospital,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Demetrio C. Pineda, a corpsman with the battalion. “This training (also) familiarized us with litter carries and triage.”

The collection point and shock-trauma familiarization help corpsmen identify and treat various injuries associated with a roll over, such as crushing or lacerations, according to Lt. Cmdr. Randy L. Panke, a physician assistant with the battalion.

During each phase of training, the corpsmen were observed by peers who evaluated their performance.

“We want to get them trained, and we want them to learn more advanced lifesaving skills,” said Panke.

“More than anything, this training is a confidence builder,” said Panke. “It gives corpsmen a chance to ask questions and correct deficiencies in a controlled environment.”

• Date Taken: 08.29.2012
• Date Posted: 09.06.2012 01:35
• Story ID: 94277
• Location: AICHI, JP