NCNG Medics evaluate Combat Casualties

Photo By Staff Sgt. Ruth McClary | CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – North Carolina Army National Guard medics, with the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, prepare to place a casualty with multiple severe wounds into a field ambulance during a medic combat exercise here, June 18. The dummy Soldier suffered a right arm amputation, deep wounds on the right leg, a fractured ankle, etc. The team worked like a well-oiled machine. The exercise, hosted by the 163rd Area Medical Support Company, was based on extreme real-world scenarios that military health care specialists could face in a combat zone. (Photo by Army National Guard Sgt. Ruth McClary, 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Public Affairs)  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

06.18.2016

Story by Sgt. Ruth McClary 

North Carolina National Guard

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – North Carolina Army National Guard medics, with the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, jump up and run when they hear that a man is down at the FLA (field litter ambulance) during a medical field training exercise here, June 18, 2016.

The exercise, administered by the 163rd Area Support Medical Company, is based on extreme real-world scenarios that military health care specialists may have to face in a combat zone while maintaining a level head and steady hand.

The soldier that was down in the scenario was a left arm amputee. The medics quickly applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding and then quickly moved the casualty to the field hospital to assess other wounds.

“In a tactical environment we have to treat life-threatening ailments before we can move the victim,” said Pvt. Darrell Hopkins, a medic with the 130th MEB.

The medics were evaluated every step of the way by citizen soldiers who are licensed physicians by trade as they practiced treating a training dummy with several severe injuries. The medics stabilized the patient before moving him from the field facility to a hospital out of the warzone.

“As you go through the scenario, don’t worry about if you did or didn’t do something right,” said Lt. Col. Wes Hite, a physician with the 163rd Area Support Medical Company “We’ll go over everything in the end.”

Capt. Jonathan Campbell, a physician assistant with the 163rd ASMC, gave the team from the 130th MEB a complete run down of what to expect during the exercise. They observed the 163rd medics as they ran threw it once just before the 130th medics got their chance.

“You need to work as a team, if everyone tries to do their own thing no one will really know what’s going on,” said Campbell. “When the casualty is brought in, you need to focus and assess, as long as the massive hemorrhage is identified you can move on to the airway, breathing and circulation.”

Before the exercise began, Campbell told the group to remember the M-I-S-T acronym; basically giving them a run down of what to look for on the casualty.

MIST stands for: Mechanism (blast wound, artillery, gunshot wound, etc.); Injuries (amputation to the right arm, deep wound to the right leg, fractured, dislocation of left ankle); Signs and Symptoms (if casualty is alert, check pulse rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, whether or not they are responsive); Treatments administered (Tourniquet applied to the amputation, pressure dressing, etc.).

“This is what you need to start thinking of once you go into the scenario,” said Campbell. “You need to identify the mechanisms, injuries, signs & symptoms, and treatments. If you file that away in your head, you’ll get to the point where you’ll be able to logically think through that like rapid fire.”

“We’re not looking for perfection,” Campbell continued. “What we are looking for are the things that would kill the patient; those are the things we want you to take care of.”

Campbell yells out prompts to aid both teams of medics which thrust them into action. They all look calm as they assess the excessive wounds on the mannequin’s body, even though none of them have ever been in a combat situation before.

When the 130th medics are told about the man down, they snap into action like a well-oiled machine. When they moved the casualty to the field medical facility, they each found an area to evaluate and treat, rolling through the steps like clockwork.

Pfc. Abigale Godwin began clearing the victim’s airway as Pfc. Luke Wilson started an IV. Pvt. Darrell Hopkins checked vital signs. Pfc. Dhestani Jennings bandaged lower extremities wounds as Spc. Robert Tompkins, the team lead, made sure the team didn’t forget to check for bleeding on the victims backside.

Overall, the casualty was stabilized enough to be transported in the field ambulance for further care. The team wrapped the victim in a blanket and used the four-man carry to transport the victim to the ambulance as the exercise ended.

“That was very smooth,” said Campbell. “You guys should be very pleased with what you did.
This can be a little intimidating but realistically this is what you do. That was solid work…good job!

• Date Taken: 06.18.2016
• Date Posted: 07.06.2016 09:39
• Story ID: 203185
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US