Iraqi army route clearance teams receive medical training

Photo By Scott Flenner | Staff Sgt. Adam Sanchez from Pineville, La., has a member of the 11th Iraqi army engineer regiment apply an improvised tourniquet during first aid training, May 13. "An improvised tourniquet is not a commercial tourniquet. It is a tourniquet that is using the available materials that you may have with you such as rags, sticks, and such," said Sanchez a member of the 225th Engineer Brigade.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

05.14.2009

Story by Scott Flenner 

225th Engineer Brigade

BAGHDAD — Soldiers from the 225th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division — Baghdad gave medical training to the Iraqi army route clearance team members of the 11th IA Engineer Regiment located in the northeastern Baghdad District of Adhamiyah, May 13.

Thanks to training provided by the 'Castle' engineers, what to do in the aftermath of a fellow soldier becoming injured is no longer a fear or cause for concern for the IA soldiers.

"The mission today was to reinforce basic life saving skills, basic first aid, and show them new methods and new ways they can improve upon rendering medical care to each other," said 225th combat medic, Sgt. Mark Jackson, who hails from Alexandria, La.

There are many skills that a Soldier must master to become proficient in medical first aid, but none being more important than controlling bleeding.

"You have to control the bleeding," said Jackson.

To control bleeding in a combat zone usually means the application of a tourniquet, a device that constricts blood vessels to slow the bleeding; and being able to apply that tourniquet can be the difference between life and death for a Soldier.

"We showed the IA how to apply improvised and CAT II tourniquets, going in depth with the improvised," said Staff Sgt. Adam Sanchez of the 225th Eng. Bde., who is a native of Pineville, La.

"An improvised tourniquet is not a commercial tourniquet. It is a tourniquet that is using the available materials that you may have with you such as rags, sticks, and such," he continued.

The soldiers from the 11th IA quickly took note of the training and began practicing putting bandage wraps and the all important tourniquets on each other's arms and legs to practice what was just taught.

As the lead instructor Sanchez noted, "They were very excited to learn and I was surprised at the amount of knowledge [first-aid] that the IA soldiers already had. Even some of the senior guys there were former med students."

The combat medics of the 225th Eng. Bde., will continue to provide instruction to its Iraqi army partners for many months to come.

• Date Taken: 05.14.2009
• Date Posted: 05.14.2009 12:30
• Story ID: 33621
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ