Photo By Spc. Jazz Burney | Pfc. Brian Born, paralegal specialist, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry...... read more read more
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By Spc. Jazz Burney
3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Tikrit, Iraq - Service members from different units on Contingency Operating Base Speicher trained and participated in a condensed 3-day combat life saver course to learn or enhance their skills at the 345th Combat Support Hospital, Nov. 2008.
"More often in past Army combat situations those who experienced the true battles were the infantry, military police and those of combat military occupational specialties," said Sgt. 1st Class Clifton Joplin, non-commissioned officer in charge of medical education, 345th CSH. "Now because of the war we are fighting, the battle is no longer consolidated to certain MOS. We now have the task of training all Soldiers to the standard in life saving techniques across the board," he said.
Throughout the course service members were taught the basics of combat life saving: establishing superior fire power, learning the stages of care under fire, evaluation of a casualty, determining levels of consciousness, controlling bleeding, stabilizing a patient and evacuation procedures and methods.
Instructors at the CSH wanted to create a central place for joint medical training in order to teach one standard and produce the same results. This idea resulted in the CLS courses taught today, according to Joplin.
Spc. Ryan Chicoine a CLS instructor, 345th CSH, consistently emphasized, "The best medicine on the battlefield is fire superiority."
But the training isn't just for use in a combat zone.
"We are teaching a skill set to each service member so that they become more fluent with treating severe injuries ranging from the accident back in a motor pool, to stopping major arterial bleeding out on the battlefield - whatever situation is presented we want our forces to be able to react, adapt and possibly save each other's lives," said Joplin.
After the course the students shared why the course is important to them.
"The knowledge gained from the CLS class is a tremendous plus -- it teaches you to be able to react productively and exposes you to the gruesome and difficult situations that our line of work might present at any given time," said Senior Airman Paul Searles, Security Forces, 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron.
"Participation in the CLS course as a transportation specialist is good thing because with us being on the road as often as we are, there is a high possibility of us hitting an improvised explosive device," said Spc. Corey Smith, transportation specialist, 70th Transportation Company. "If any one of my battle buddies were to be injured, this training allows me to know how to help prolong their lives until the actual combat medics can come perform the advanced steps and ensure that Soldier's way back home safely," he said.
Smith brought out another important aspect of the training: self-aid.
"The training also teaches you how to stop bleeding and to introduce the necessary fluids to yourself if needed. There is always a possibility that your battle buddy might be engaging the enemy and can't tend to you; we need to know how to improvise for our own well being," he said.
| Date Taken: | 12.09.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.09.2008 08:48 |
| Story ID: | 27366 |
| Location: | TIKRIT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 992 |
| Downloads: | 903 |
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