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Saving lives

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  • By Lois Walsh
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Thirty medical technicians are trading their ward duties for the classroom as they learn how to deal with combat injuries. 

The technicians, from the 96th Medical Group, are spending the week of Oct. 22, learning techniques that provide their next level of training. It focuses on personnel who are ramping up to deploy soon. 

Major Jacqueline Thomas is the commander of the group's education and training flight and is also the interim flight commander for readiness. This training falls under both areas. 

"Because of our ongoing deployments, we look for the medical technicians to have a lot of taskings in critical care units," Major Thomas said. "This mobile course not only provides them training in the critical care arena, but also allows them to have training that meets our daily mission." 

Ken Davis heads a five-man team of instructors from Eastern New Mexico University at Roswell. He said the intensive care technician class not only focuses skills needed to deploy but also allows the participants to gain an increased understanding of the special needs of critical patients. 

"The classes focus on resuscitation and the management of patients in an intensive care environment," Mr. Davis said. "It builds on entry-level training and gives the students more experience in patient management." 

Bringing the training here saved approximately $138,000 in travel expenses. This is the second base that offered the training, which uses manikins for training to allow students to test their skills in such areas as airway management and chest tube placement. 

Staff Sgt. Beth Peters and Senior Airman Sara Wise are two students who will be deploying in the near future. Both said they were learning new techniques while other areas were a refresher of lessons already learned. Sergeant Peters has a bit of an advantage. She majored in biology in college and had classes in anatomy and physiology. 

"A lot of the information is a refresher," she said, "but it's worthwhile because it is related to deployment." 

Whether the information and techniques are new or a brush-up of skills, Mr. Davis summed up the goal for the class. 

"Hopefully, sick and injured (Airmen) will be treated more efficiently and the lessons learned will streamline their care."