Gunston Hall Sailors Teach First Aid to African sailors

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Martine Cuaron | Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew Colemaw, hospital corpsman, from Indianapolis, gives a Ghanaian woman an eye examination during a medical outreach program at Manhean Health Center as part of Africa Partnership Station West. APS West is an international initiative developed by Naval Forces Europe and Naval Forces Africa that aims to improve maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa.  

SEKONDI, GHANA

03.16.2010

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class John Stratton 

U.S. Navy           

SEKONDI, Ghana — Sailors from the Benin, Ghanaian, and Nigerian navies took part in first aid training, March 16 — 17, aboard the Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock-landing ship USS Gunston Hall.

The training, part of a curriculum for students participating in Africa Partnership Station West 2010, demonstrated how the U.S. Navy treats patients with serious injuries. The idea, according to Tom Guest, senior chief hospital corpsman, is that the students will take the instruction and be able to apply it when necessary.

"The training being taught to the students is what every Sailor aboard Gunston Hall receives," said Guest, of Norfolk, Va., leading chief petty officer for the ship's health services department. "These classes are just an introduction to help the students become familiar with the methods we use."

Five corpsman from the ship's health services department took turns instructing classes on such topics as fractures, head injuries, abdominal eviscerations and electric shock.

"They're doing well," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Guy Leppry, hospital corpsman, of Smyrna, Ga. "They caught on to the material very quickly and have been correcting themselves as they go along."

Benin navy sailor Houedanou Richard said he enjoyed the training.

"This training is very useful," said Richard. "We are having fun learning the basics that we can later use if needed."

The training being conducted through APS West is designed to enhance professional development and provide a valuable motivational and instructional experience to increase the awareness of maritime safety and security.

Gunston Hall is on a scheduled deployment in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility in support of APS West, an international initiative developed by Naval Forces Europe and Naval Forces Africa that aims to improve maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa.

You can follow Gunston Hall and APS at their respective Facebook pages, www.facebook.com/GunstonHall and www.facebook.com/AfricaPartnershipStation.

• Date Taken: 03.16.2010
• Date Posted: 03.22.2010 06:36
• Story ID: 46984
• Location: SEKONDI, GH