PALAWAN, Philippines - Chief Hospital Corpsman Clifford L. Salviejo conducted basic first aid training with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 Seabees and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), 2nd NMCB, Naval Combat Engineering Brigade Seabees and Marines, Jan. 25, at Abaroan School District in Palawan, Philippines.
The training is designed to enhance U.S. and Philippine Seabees and Marines’ basic knowledge of how to treat an injury on a construction site. Comprised of relatively simple techniques that can be performed with rudimentary equipment, first aid is usually carried out by a layperson until professional medical assistance arrives.
The purpose of first aid training is to minimize injury and future disability. In serious cases, first aid may be necessary to keep the victim alive.
Salviejo assigned to NMCB 3 taught a basic first aid training course that included how to apply a tourniquet, bandaging head injuries, and splinting techniques.
During the training, Salviejo assisted a member of the AFP Seabee on demonstrating how to splint a broken arm.
“It’s good to share knowledge with the Philippine Seabees and Marines,” said Salviejo. “It allows everyone to take care of each other, in case I’m out of reach or at another project site.”
The main focus for this training is common construction injuries, such as slip hazards, fall injuries, and foreign object injuries, anything that would possibly happen on a construction site.
At the end of the training, Salviejo conducted a series of basic stretching exercises as part of injury prevention, due to repetitive motions Seabees carry out through the day.
NMCB 3 is homeported in Port Hueneme, California, and is currently deployed to Okinawa, Japan. The mission of NMCB 3 is to support Navy and joint forces throughout the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) area of responsibility (AOR) through construction projects and humanitarian missions in more than 14 different geographical locations.