US medics provide airway management training to ANA soldiers

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
Story by Sgt. Sarah Bailey

Date: 06.23.2013
Posted: 06.27.2013 02:15
News ID: 109337

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Medical personnel from Company C, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, helped train their Afghan National Army counterparts on airway management, June 23, at Forward Operating Base Shank, to enhance the skills of the Afghan doctors and medics.

The U.S. medics began by walking ANA soldiers through the treatment of casualties on the battlefield and how the treatment changes as the patient moves up to higher echelons of care where more extensive interventions are available.

U.S. Army Capt. Baruch Zobrist, a physician’s assistant with Co. C, 703rd BSB, and a resident of Richmond Hill, Ga., was one of the providers who collaborated on the training to ensure the ANA soldiers were taught effective skills to save Afghan lives.

“The Afghan medics are pretty well trained in basic point of injury trauma management,” said Zobrist. “The purpose of focusing on airway management was to provide them with new skills and confidence that can be used in an aid station setting to further stabilize trauma patients.”

Zobrist, along with other Co. C, also known as Charlie Med., medical providers know the importance of airway management and the value these skills have when it comes to saving a patient’s life. The airway management skills are vital in the effort to stabilize and increase the chances of survival for a patient during transport to a facility with a higher level of care. This is especially important, considering ground travel by ambulance takes time.

U.S. Army Sgt. Jessica Hornes, a medic with Charlie Med, was another instructor for this course who taught the soldiers how to open and manage an airway through both the nasal and oral passages. The Apopka, Fla., native, also provided each ANA medic with the opportunity to perform hands-on-training with the airway management skills.

“We have the training, we have the supplies, it would be a waste to leave this country without sharing that knowledge with these medics,” said Hornes.

Sgt. Mohammad Niab, a medic with the 5th Kandak, 4th Brigade, 203rd Corps, was one of the five ANA students in the class and jumped in head first when it came to the hands- on portion of the training. “I feel more confident using these skills to help someone who is injured,” Niab said.