If you only remember two things when you leave the Combat Lifesaver Course, make sure it is how to stop bleeding and how to clear an airway.
That is what the combat medics assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment stressed when they conducted a class for the Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, Hungarian Defense Forces Sept. 21 at Bakony Combat Training Centre, Veszprem, Hungary during Exercise Brave Warrior.
The medical team passed out the basic contents of an Individual First Aid Kit for the Hungarians to use as training aids. Included in the bag were some of the most important items a first responder needs: an Emergency Trauma Bandage, tourniquet and nasopharyngeal airway tube.
"The major causes of preventable battlefield death are hemorrhage from extremity or airway occlusion," explained Sgt. Daniel Frost, one of HHTs CLS instructors. "So, we went over the three basic instruments that we use to help save lives on the battlefield."
"We explained the basic concept of why you need these three individual pieces of medical equipment," Frost continued. "Then we went through basic application of them and why they are so important to know. This is also how we teach the American Soldiers during CLS."
The tourniquet is the first line of defense to stop bleeding from an extremity wound which is placed high and tight at the point of injury by a combat life saver or during buddy aid. Once the casualty reaches a combat medic, the initial tourniquet can be converted to a deliberate tourniquet depending on the location of the patients wound.
The Emergency Trauma Bandage, an elasticized bandage with a built in pressure bar, is used to apply pressure and stop bleeding to a non-arterial wound. And, to secure an open airway, the nasopharyngeal airway tube is inserted into the nasal passage of the casualty.
Time is at an essence when you come upon a casualty in dire need of medical assistance. That is why it is important everyone needs to know the basics because there are only a couple combat medics per infantry company.
"We cannot be split in seven different directions, so in order for us to have a higher survival rate, we need to train more Soldiers," said Staff Sgt. Mary Ray, the Senior Non Commissioned Officer of medical platoon.
To achieve optimal learning and participation, the Hungarian Soldiers were put in groups of about five with a U.S. junior enlisted Soldier as instructor. This way, both armies benefit from the class.
Second Lieutenant Peter Szecsi, platoon leader with 1st Company, 1st BN, 25th IN BGDE, HDF, said the class was very useful because his Soldiers do not have a lot experience with first aid and for some it was the first time they used a tourniquet.
"My Soldiers were willing to learn," Szecsi said. "We did a test after they learned how to put on a tourniquet; one minute to apply it correctly."
As for the U.S. Soldiers in the position of instructor, they were able to demonstrate their skills by teaching them correctly to someone else. The consensus in the medic platoon is 'one of the best ways to learn something is to teach it'.
"That helps build their confidence; when teaching other Soldiers," said Frost. "As a medic your confidence is not just how well you can do your job but how well the Soldiers around you perceive how well you can do your job. Because if no one has confidence in your abilities no one is going to come to you for help until it is too late."
As for the Hungarian Soldiers in 1st Company, they now know how to effectively stop bleeding and open an airway for a casualty.
"The class was very helpful, a good experience for my Soldiers," said Szecsi. "Every second counts. Now my Soldiers know."
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