Photo By Tech. Sgt. Kentavist Brackin | Navy Lt. Charles J. Siegert, a general surgeon with 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine...... read more read more
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OU, Cambodia - Medical personnel from the III Marine Expeditionary Force, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and local community health providers attended the first Medical Stability Symposium June 21–23 in Cambodia.
The symposium is part of the regular Cambodia Interoperability Program 2011, a regularly-held exercise between III MEF’s 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, and RCAF personnel that allows both nations to conduct joint medical and dental operations, improve interoperability and foster goodwill to ensure regional peace and stability.
The symposium allows for the exchange of industry best-practices in current medical procedures, treatment of critical injuries, mass-casualty evacuation drills and discussions about preventive measures against illnesses currently plaguing Cambodia, according to U.S. Navy Lt. Jeffrey C. Hertz, officer in charge of CIP 2011.
“This kind of training is important because it allows for a continuous exchange of knowledge between our two nations,” said Royal Cambodian Navy Cmdr. Ky Yadeth, a medical officer and chief of the Ream Naval Base clinic.
The medical symposium took place at three different locations and targeted three unique audiences.
At the Chhuk District Hospital in Kampot Province, a Subject Matter Expert Exchange was held, consisting of lectures given by medical experts from 3rd Med. Bn., the RCN and local community health providers. The exchange focused on malaria risk in the province, child resuscitation and traumatic brain injuries.
“I think that having this exchange and involving the local community was a good idea,” said Jacob M. Hanson, the Chhuk community-health education volunteer from the U.S. Peace Corps. “It will give the service providers more knowledge and skills that they need to treat diseases and educate the community. More education can only help the people with their day-to-day problems when you educate the service providers about the problems they see every day in their hospitals.”
At the headquarters of the Royal Gendarmerie, the military police branch of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces located in Kampot province, the MP personnel learned about lifesaving skills. They were taught how to treat different types of injuries, such as applying splints to broken legs and arms, bandaging head injuries and the different types of carries used to evacuate injured personnel.
“This is the first time we have done first-aid training with the U.S. military,” said Lt. Col. Chan Chanthoeun, commander-in-chief for the Royal Gendarmerie in Kampot. “I was impressed with [the basic-lifesaving training], especially the practical application portion. I was able to see how [my soldiers] would react to situations they were just learning about.”
At Ream Naval Base, RCN medical personnel learned how to triage patients for mass-casualty evacuations, direct patient flow and perform emergency-surgical procedures.
“I am a new graduate to the navy medical unit, so it is very fascinating to be a part this knowledge exchange and training,” said RCN Petty Officer 3rd Class Kong Songha, a medical assistant with RCN.
According to Songha, he was able to quickly catch on to techniques being discussed, such as treating a sucking-chest wound and surgical procedures for clearing an airway thanks to a very knowledgeable team of U.S. and Cambodian sailors he worked with during the seminar.
“I am very happy about the U.S. military being able to bring new knowledge of medical procedures and treatment, until this day we have been practicing old knowledge,” said Yadeth. “I hope next year I can learn more about the medical battalion organization and its capabilities. With that knowledge, I hope I can replicate a similar organization or response team.”
| Date Taken: | 07.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.30.2011 20:49 |
| Story ID: | 73058 |
| Location: | OU, KH |
| Web Views: | 69 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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