Combat Life Saver Course teaches Soldiers to save lives

Courtesy Photo | Staff Sgt. Mark Dearlove (far right), medic and instructor for the Combat Life Saver course, faces the CLS class April 27, and demonstrates how to set up and give an IV to a casualty.  

05.15.2007

Courtesy Story

Multi-National Corps Iraq Public Affairs

By Sgt. Maurice Smith
Multi-National Division – North PAO

Kirkuk, Iraq –It's the initial care given to the injured before a medic or a medical facility can be provided. Troops on and off of the battle field find themselves in many different situations, which asks a lot of them. No matter the scenario, and no matter the Military Oriented Skill a Soldier may possess, he will more than likely be the "first care responder" when a buddy is in need.

The Combat Life Saver course is a program that recognizes this reality, and because of it, CLS is available for all Soldiers to come and learn advanced first aid to help save a friend in time of need.

CLS is a three-day course and is taught every two weeks at the Ivory Combat Clinic on Forward Operating Base Warrior. No matter what branch or MOS, any service member and select civilians can attend the class. They learn lifesaving skills such as how to control bleeding, check respiration and vitals of a casualty, and how to administer an IV, among other things.

"It's basically an extension of medical care providers and medics. It's where these guys are getting to do my job when I can't be there," said Staff Sgt. Mark Dearlove, assistant non commissioned officer in charge, ICC, C Company, 325th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

"A medic can't be everywhere, so we need someone to be able to react to life-threatening situations in a tactical environment and perform the medical care there because valuable time could be lost," Dearlove explained.

The first day of training focuses on evaluating a casualty, checking for bleeding, breathing and pulse. CLS students learn how to thoroughly inspect and identify symptoms before moving on.

It gets a little bit more interesting during the second day of class where students actually administer IVs on one another, before sliding tubes through each other's nostrils to open airways and restore breathing.

"Some of it was pretty scary, but the training help overcome the fear," explained Spc. Brianne Luedtke, CLS student, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd BCT. "People who were afraid of needles gained confidence."

Instructors provide a demonstration for each procedure to help calm the student's fear. "If I'm out there, I want to be confident someone is going to be able to save my life," said Staff Sgt. Jason Chang, health advisor for the 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion. Chang is attached to 3rd BCT, and helps teach each CLS class by sacrificing his body for training purposes. From getting IVs in the arm and neck, to putting tubes through his nose to show how to open a casualty's airway, he literally takes one for the team at the students' expense. "I volunteer my body to develop (Soldiers') confidence for when they do go out the wire," he said.

"The medics went step-by-step to show whoever attended the class how to do it," said Sgt. Christine Kurckerewics, HHC, 325th BSB. Kurkerewics attended CLS March 29-31. Although she had no previous medical training and works in administration, she picked up on the training very easily due to guidance from the instructors.

"If you needed help, they were there with you the whole timeline of training, showing you the way it's supposed to be done," said Kurkerewics. "It helps build your self esteem to where you know you are going to be able to help someone if it comes to that situation."

Instructors put themselves on the line to ensure their students are ready for the final day of training, where the Soldiers' knowledge is put to the test. They gear up in full battle rattle on the last day to conduct lane training, taking all of their new medical skills and actually applying it as if in a combat situation.

"All of the scenarios that we do are based off of events that have actually happened in theater," said Spc. Dean Quiram, CLS instructor, 325th BSB. "That's we try to make this training as realistic as possible and stress them heavily before they ever have to actually use these skills."

From lifting heavy, life sized dummies out of the turret of a humvee to patching him up and calling in a medical evacuation, the students received good hands-on training or a good workout, if anything.

"The CLS training that we received was outstanding. They gave us a base knowledge that every Soldier should learn," said Kurckerewics.

Although general first aid is taught in basic training, many of the students and instructors feel that every service member should attend CLS for increased knowledge, preparing them for unpredictable situations.

"You never know what's going to happen. We know guys who have just walked into the class for a couple of hours, taken parts of the training and actually used it," said Sgt. Sabrina Garza, senior CLS instructor. "I know that if you guys learn everything that we teach, your possibility of saving a Soldier or a friend will be a lot higher."

• Date Taken: 05.15.2007
• Date Posted: 05.15.2007 14:40
• Story ID: 10400