BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - When some hear about a rodeo, they think of cowboys, horses and livestock.
The Emergency Medical Technicians Rodeo at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital, April 14, didn't include any of those.
"The EMT Rodeo is a fun way to sharpen combat medic skills in a joint training environment," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Tammy Robinson, pharmacy technician, 455th Expeditionary Medical Support Squadron, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing.
Service members in the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force gathered to race against the clock to treat simulated traumatic injuries.
Thirteen teams of four were timed as they carried a mannequin on a litter to six different trauma stations around the outside of the hospital. Teams could not be all male or all female and one of the team members had to be a non-medical person.
"I incorporated having one non-medical person on each team so that they can see the trauma stations and to give them exposure to this," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Manuel Molina, a coordinator of the event and a medic in the 455th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing.
While giving non-medical service members exposure, the rodeo also helped the medics maintain their skills.
"We haven't been working much with the emergency aspect, we do more sick call, so this is a refresher for us," said Spc. Elvira Hernandez, a medic in Detachment 3, 345th Combat Support Hospital, who works at the Afghan National Detention Facility at Parwan.
Service members treated simulated wounds such as a broken leg, an abdominal wound, labored breathing and shock.
Through competition, the rodeo encourages teamwork.
"This helps build camaraderie among first responders within the Army, Navy and Air Force medics," said Robinson.
"I looked forward to the teamwork," said Spc. Jamie Krauss, a medic, 756th Area Support Medical Company.
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service provided prizes for the first, second and third place teams.
A team from the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division rode away with first place. Each member of the team received a $20 AAFES gift certificate.
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