KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - For those involved in serious vehicle accidents, a first response medical team may be all that stands between life and death. The training that first-responders receive enable them to provide quick, lifesaving care until accident victims are taken to a hospital.
Members of the Afghan Uniformed Police used this training to save lives recently, as a few officers showed proof of increased community and public safety when they arrived at the scene of a vehicle collision, assessed the casualties and evacuated them to a higher echelon of care.
For the people of Panjwa’i district in southern Kandahar, Afghanistan, the success of the AUP as first responders is a historical benchmark reached only through continuous hard work and training.
In recent years, the ability to assess, react and recover injured Afghan civilians has been nonexistent, making the success of the AUP even more important to the people of Panjwa’i.
The incident Sept. 30 proved to be a huge success as the AUP were able to save the lives of an adult female and a child.
The AUP have been training side by side with International Security Assistance Forces and the Afghan National Army to improve their medical proficiency.
Beginning Sept. 27, Afghan medical professionals with ANA’s medical company, 5th Kandak, 1st Brigade 205th Corps, have taken the reigns from their ISAF counterparts during a combat life savers course.
During the course the ANA medical staff successfully taught a group of twelve Afghan soldiers how to administer intravenous fluids to a number of patients.
The Afghan soldiers hope that by the end of the month all ANA soldiers with the 5/1/205th will be proficient in basic combat life saver skills like using the tourniquet, administering IVs and preventing shock.
The course is another successful chapter added to Afghanistan’s history books, as the ANA and the Afghan National Police continue to take over more responsibilities from their U.S. partners.
Together the AUP, ANA and ISAF hope that through a continued partnership, and more advanced medical training, the success of that September day will become the standard in Panjwa’i.