CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT- Thirty-nine Soldiers from across the 854th Engineer Battalion to include the 207th, 215th, 417th, and 990th Engineer Companies completed the Combat Lifesaver (CLS) Course on Aug. 4, 2017.
During the 5-day long course, Soldiers learned a number of skills to include evaluating a casualty, rendering basic care, opening a blocked airway and how to request medical evacuation. Combat Lifesaver is not designed to replace combat medics, but is added to a Soldier’s primary job function.
Sgt. Jodie Trapp, a carpentry and masonry specialist assigned to the 990th Engineer Co., who completed the course as the distinguished honor graduate, says she found the course very beneficial.
“This was the best CLS training I have ever received,” said Trapp. “The instructors were extremely knowledgeable and able to explain everything in a way we could all understand.”
After the classroom portion of instruction, Soldiers tested their skills on a Rapid Equipping Force-Tactical Combat Care Kit. The TC3 Kit consists of a life-like mannequin that is capable of simulating breathing and bleeding, as well as other simulated functions.
Capt. Raymond Mott, the 854th Eng. Bn. Physician Assistant, said the training aids provide valuable data to measure a Soldier’s abilities.
“These mannequins are capable of simulating scenarios to test advanced CLS skills all the way through provider level skills,” said Mott.
Combat Medics instructing the class were able to view the mannequin’s status as the scenario unfolded. The handheld controller for the TC3 kit allows the instructor to determine how the students are performing by displaying a status of the mannequin such as anxious or dead. Additionally, it allows the instructor to see if the medical interventions were performed correctly.
Combat Medics can also change the mannequin’s heart or breathing rate during the scenario to better simulate realistic conditions. The 854th's combat medic and instructor of the CLS class, Sgt. Darcie Jones, says the training mannequins are a necessary training tool.
“Using battle buddies or standard mannequins don’t provide the chance to perform the medical interventions and receive real time feedback,” said Jones.
The practical exercise required Soldiers to react to realistic combat related injuries and were tasked with identifying and treating leg amputations, sucking chest wounds, tension pneumothorax, and blocked airways. Soldiers worked in four-man teams to demonstrate proficiency applying a Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT), a chest decompression needle, pressure bandages, nasopharyngeal airway (NPA), and other battlefield trauma care equipment.
Lead instructor of the CLS course, Sgt. Matthew Marcheski, says it’s a challenging class to instruct due to the size, but having the opportunity to certify 39 Soldiers is rewarding.
“The battalion is more prepared for combat operations as a result of this class.,” said Marcheski. “The TC3 mannequins provided exposure to potential real-life situations, and these Soldiers are now trained appropriately and can react accurately.”
| Date Taken: | 08.04.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2017 07:51 |
| Story ID: | 248649 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 234 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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