Training treats patients with tourniquets

IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JAPAN

02.03.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Cayce Nevers 

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

IWAKUNI, Japan - Medical personnel with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115, Marine Aircraft Group 36 and Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 train and improve their medical skills when no patients are present at the medical center which was set up at the flight line here to support Exercise Cobra Gold 2012.

Exercise Cobra Gold is an annual multinational exercise that allows military personnel to conduct bilateral and unit-level training with the Thai armed forces, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company.

Medical personnel not only train during their downtime but also help sick or injured Marines and sailors while on the flight line or around the shops.

“Our main purpose is to support the air-combat element with medical services and first aid,” said Navy Lt. Ky G. Dorsey, VMFA-115 flight surgeon.

While on deployments to other countries, medical comes in handy. They provide assistance to those who are injured or ill.

“We see anything ranging from work-related injuries to non-work related injuries,” said Dorsey.

When there are no patients, however, medical personnel spend their time training to maintain proficiency in their jobs.

“I let the junior corpsmen put an intravenous therapy in me to train them on the proper IV procedures, which helps them increase their expertise in their field,” said Dorsey.

Not only do the corpsmen train in proper techniques on each other, but they also used a simulation body brought from Okinawa.

This dummy body simulates and responds like a live person.

“We learned emergency airways, how to treat combat wounds and other things like that with this dummy,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Toby J. Lorge, Cobra Gold 2012 Battalion Aid Station leading petty officer.

This training on each other and the simulation dummy gives the corpsmen an opportunity to see how patients react and respond to treatment of wounds and other emergency situations.

While supplies are limited for medical personnel here, they are still able to perform their jobs to the best of their abilities.

“We have a lot of corpsmen from different units, and everyone has different techniques. Utilizing all their skills is a big factor of being deployed,” said Lorge.

While Marines continue to complete their mission during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012, medical personnel will continue to train and treat patients as needed.

• Date Taken: 02.03.2012
• Date Posted: 02.10.2012 03:05
• Story ID: 83651
• Location: IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP