Photo By Master Sgt. Warren Wright | A medic with Company C, 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat...... read more read more
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FORT RILEY, Kan. - Medics with Company C, 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, along with the support of the 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Inf. Div., conducted medical evacuation training by way of helicopters March 8 at Fort Riley, Kansas.
The training familiarized the medics with how to use various hoist methods to lift casualties out of areas where helicopters cannot safely land.
During the training, they used both a “Skedco Sked” basic rescue system and a rescue seat to evacuate simulated patients as the helicopter hovered about 50 feet off the ground.
Training using the hoist method is unique for the 101st BSB medics, Capt. Christopher Rodriguez, the company’s commander, said.
“It’s typically done by the medic on the bird, but you never know when our guys would need to assist,” he said. “Understanding that process and how to do that is what is important because usually we just load patients onto the bird.”
The day started with a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the 1st CAB landing in the field where the medics were to train. Following instruction from a flight medic on the use of the two hoist methods, the Soldiers prepared a simulated casualty to be lifted by the sked.
“This kind of training is important because we’re getting used to being around the helicopter and medevac,” Rodriguez said. “These medics are getting used to being around the wind and what it can do. That helps with the speed of the patient (recovery).”
For the medics of the 101st BSB, the training provided a bit of fun after they focused on training in the field for more than a week.
“I just like being around the helicopters,” Pfc. Erik Irps, a medic with Company C, said. “It’s a cool vehicle and I like the wind in my hair. It’s just another day in the office.”
While the training was fun for the participating Soldiers, it still provided valuable experience that could come in handy in the future.
“It was a good chance to get realistic training in a field environment,” said Sgt. Brian Plouse, a radiology noncommissioned officer with the company. “This is as close to the real thing as you’re going to come.”
The medics of Co. C often do not get the chance to work with medevac helicopters in training; however, that has recently changed, Plouse said. Now, “every time we go to the field, we’re trying to get a bird to come out and do air lift and air (evacuation) training,” he added.
Before the training concluded, some of the medics had the opportunity to see what it felt like to ride up to the helicopter using the rescue seat.
“My favorite part of the training was going up in the hoist,” Plouse said. “It was awesome because when I went through Air Assault School, they didn’t have a bird to repel out of, so this was kind of that replacement.”
The Company C Soldiers will continue to work with the 1st CAB and train in various medevac procedures to be prepared for just about any situation that may arise during future deployments.
| Date Taken: | 03.11.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.14.2016 11:31 |
| Story ID: | 192246 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 105 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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