CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, TIKRIT, Iraq - Focusing on quickly
transporting patients to the nearest hospital for treatment and stabilization is an
excellent, reachable goal -- but, after all this effort, what if they die en route'
Soldiers of 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division partnered
with the Iraqi Ministry of Health to provide a series of training events geared toward
creating an emergency medical system program and improving efficiency in pre-hospital
care for civilian health professionals from the Tikrit General Hospital and 4th Iraqi Army
Division medical personnel.
"Our focus of pre-hospital care will definitely save a lot of lives and give our
medical professionals a lot of help as we go out and provide health service to our
people in Salah ad-Din," said an Iraqi civilian medical provider.
The medical training, which is taught in a train-the-trainer forum, is five weeks
long, and is taught two days per week for Iraqi medical personnel. About 10-15 Iraqi
health care providers attend a typical session.
"Iraqi medical professionals are really good at hospital care. An area of
improvement for them is their on-site treatment," said Capt. Ulue Porter, company
commander, Co. C, 325th Bde Support Bn, 3rd Inf Bde Combat Team, 25th Inf. Div.
"When an improvised explosive device or suicide bomber goes off within the city,
and Iraqi citizens are injured, it's the immediate amount and quality of care that needs to
be performed at the site of injury that makes all the difference in saving lives. This is
where we are assisting Iraqi medical personnel," he continued.
The partnership between Coalition Forces and the Iraqi Ministry of Health to
facilitate training for the Iraqi health care provider's emergency medical technician team
started in the beginning of March, according to Staff Sgt. Grace David,
noncommissioned officer in charge of medical training and education, 325 BSB.
The hands-on training regimen consists of initial scene and patient assessment, to include proper scene evaluation procedures before providing medical treatment, proper patient loading procedures, and ongoing assessment of patients en route to the
hospital.
Iraqi medical technicians also learned pain assessment techniques, surgical
techniques, how to handle motor vehicle accidents, blast injuries, IED injuries and are
challenged through exercises geared toward improving effective mass casualty
procedures.
"Every time these Iraqi professionals return from a previous training session, they
explain to me that they have applied the knowledge learned in their medical procedures
and have benefited from the experience. This is the rewarding aspect of my job -- I get
to see the results of my labor," said David.
The Iraqi participants expressed similar sentiments regarding this valuable
training opportunity.
"The training that we are being provided will definitely show its worth when I
return to our Iraqi Soldiers. This is my seventh training opportunity which makes me well
rounded in providing the type of care to assist my fellow Soldiers when they are in
need," said Cpl. Muhamed, Iraqi medic, 4th Motor Transportation Regiment, 4th IA Div.
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