Salvadoran Soldiers learn the importance of first aid

Photo By Sgt. Phillip Whitaker | Two Salvadoran soldiers compare field bandages applied to their arms during a first aid class conducted for Beyond the Horizon 2015. The class was instructed by U.S. Army medics from the 437th Ground Ambulance Unit out of Riverside, Calif. Beyond the Horizon is a humanitarian and civic assistance mission to build schools, clinics and provide medical assistance and training to the people of El Salvador. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Phillip Whitaker)  

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR

04.23.2015

Story by Sgt. Phillip Whitaker 

301st Public Affairs Detachment

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – More than 15 Salvadoran soldiers participated in a basic first aid course held at Comando Ingenieros de la Fuerza Armada April 23. The class was created to teach critical skills to a group of Salvadoran soldiers as part of Beyond the Horizon, a military exercise being hosted in the region.

Taking lessons from U.S. Army medical personnel, the Salvadorans learned how to control bleeding and to open an airway.

“The first barrier would be trying to translate,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Nuhu Kashalla, of Riverside, California, a medic with the 437th Ground Ambulance Unit out of Riverside, California. “They don’t have any medical background, so we need to present the material in a way that it can be learned in a short period of time.”

The goal of the class was to teach basics of first aid to a group of Salvadoran soldiers whom otherwise wouldn’t normally receive these lessons. The techniques learned in the class were known by some but new to most in attendance.

“The first aid skills are very important for every troop to know,” said Pfc. Brady Minthorne, a medic with the 437th. “There are many times that a medic will not be available so it is beneficial to be trained on how to stop hemorrhaging and how to open an airway. Those are the two ways to keep somebody alive until a medic arrives.”

The Salvadoran soldiers took to the training very well. With only a small amount of instruction time available, the soldiers executed the objectives effectively.

“The material offered to us today was familiar to me because I have seen some of it before,” said Heriberto Antonio Herrera Rodriguez, a soldier with the Sanitary Battalion of the Salvadoran army. “It was interesting because I had the opportunity to relearn some techniques that I had forgotten. It was also very beneficial for the soldiers here who haven’t had the chance to learn the basic first aid topics taught today.”

“I learned a lot about sucking chest wounds,” said Meluin Hernandez, also a soldier with the Salvadoran army. “My favorite part about the class was when we got to use the tourniquets. It was cool actually getting to use them on a leg.”

U.S. military personnel are conducting Beyond the Horizon 2015, a comprehensive humanitarian and civic assistance exercises in El Salvador with Brazilian, Canadian, Chilean and Salvadoran militaries participating. Troops specializing in engineering, construction and health care are providing needed services to Salvadoran communities while receiving valuable deployment training and building important relationships with partner nations.

• Date Taken: 04.23.2015
• Date Posted: 04.24.2015 20:53
• Story ID: 161224
• Location: SAN SALVADOR, SV
• Hometown: RIVERSIDE, CA, US