Thursday, August 02, 2007

Put to the test

Sgt. Bethany Thompson checks the vital signs on a dummy during simulated combat conditions behind DeWitt Army Community Hospital, July 26. (Photo by Marny Malin)

Forty combat medics from the DeWitt Health Care Network tested their life-saving skills during the annual Combat Medic Skills Validation Testing site set up behind the MEDDAC Company July 23, 24 and 26. 

The testing is an annual requirement for all 68Ws [Combat Medics] in the Army to test and validate each medic’s skills in trauma and medical care of casualties.

According to Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Justus, Training Coordinator, the two-part evaluation is comprised of a trauma lane where care is accomplished under simulated battlefield conditions and a garrison or civilian setting that tests basic emergency medical technician skills. 

“The first phase is care under fire, where the combat medic must provide care to a casualty while actively taking fire from the enemy,” said Justus. “Basically, this means stopping any life-threatening hemorrhage, particularly of the extremities, by applying the Combat Application Tourniquet, or CAT.” 

Once life-threatening hemorrhage is controlled, the medic drags the patient to the next phase of care which tests the overall trauma assessment that includes recognizing the symptoms of a tension pneumothorax and performing a needle chest decompression, applying additional wound dressings, initiating a saline lock and intravenous infusion, administering morphine and completing the field medical card, Justus said.

“The final phase of the combat lane is casualty evacuation,” said Justus.  “During this phase, the medic prepares and packages the casualty for transport.”

During the testing’s second part, medics are assessed on their abilities to treat a medical patient by taking vital signs, administering oxygen and mechanical breathing aids such as a bag-valve-mask, inserting a combitube and using their automated external defibrillator cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills, according to Justus. 

“This testing is crucial in making sure our combat medics are prepared to treat our Soldiers, both on the battlefield and in our hospital,” said Justus. 

The testing was facilitated by 15 DeWitt Soldiers who were trained, tested and validated in May.