Pacific Partnership Students Become Instructors during HADR Course

Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Chanel Turner | 190416-N-OI558-1422 CHUUK, Federated States of Micronesia (April 16, 2019) U.S. Navy Master Chief Personnel Specialist Rodolfo Espino simulates a wounded patient during a humanitarian assistance/disaster relief basic first responder class at Chuuk High School to strengthen national capacities and preparedness for response to disaster emergencies during Pacific Partnership 2019. Pacific Partnership, now in its 14th iteration, is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Each year, the mission team works collectively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase stability and security in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chanel Turner)  

CHUUK, MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF

04.14.2019

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Chanel Turner 

Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific

CHUUK, Federated States of Micronesia – U.S. Navy Sailors and U.S. Army Soldiers brought local community members, members of the Micronesia Red Cross Society, the Chuuk Women’s Council, and Chuuk State Hospital ambulance drivers together to train as instructors in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) capabilities during Pacific Partnership 2019, April 14-17.

Members of Pacific Partnership 2019 used the “train the trainer” course to teach participants about basic first aid, basic first responding and answer to emergencies and natural disasters in order for participants to practice in and teach their communities.

The medical acronym M.A.R.C.H. was used in the course to explain the priorities of treatment for the following topics: massive hemorrhage, airway management, respiration, circulation, hypothermia and head/spine injury.

“I’ve learned so much from the class,” said Mary Hellen Mariano-Cheng, a member of the Chuuk community. “Every topic was as important as the other. I loved them all.”

Following the two-day course, the students became instructors and taught M.A.R.C.H. and all of the treatment techniques to the Chuuk High School’s Junior Medical Reserve Corps (JMRC) members.

“I was impressed by everyone’s effort to learn and teach,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Christina Richardson, Pacific Partnership 2019 HADR team lead. “To explain everything after learning it in a short time is usually challenging, but it was exciting to know that everyone wanted to attend and learn different ways they could save lives.”

The new instructors aim to use their newly developed skills to educate their community on how to respond to emergencies.

“I felt more confident about the methods after I started teaching it to the high school class,” said T. Tong John, Micronesia Red Cross Society member. “I look forward to spreading the knowledge of what I’ve learned to the public.”

Pacific Partnership, now in its 14th iteration, is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Each year, the mission team works collectively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase stability and security in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.

• Date Taken: 04.14.2019
• Date Posted: 04.20.2019 07:12
• Story ID: 318892
• Location: CHUUK, FM