Tactical Combat Casualty Care training benefits ALL warriors

Photo By Mark Hybers | Tactical Combat Casualty Care training is not unique to the medical nurses and technicians from the 72nd Medical Group however, what is unique is training in Canine Tactical Combat Casualty Care Training.  

UNITED STATES

11.07.2022

Story by Mark Hybers 

72nd Air Base Wing

Tactical Combat Casualty Care training is not unique to the active-duty nurses and medical technicians from the 72nd Medical Group however, what is unique is training in Canine Tactical Combat Casualty Care Training.

This week, technicians and nurses received cTCCC training from a veterinary medical officer and a veterinary technician from the Tinker Air Force Base Veterinary Treatment Facility.

“One of our Medical Technicians’ Comprehensive Medical Readiness Program requirements is clinical management of the military working dog, said 72nd MDG Chief Nurse, Lt. Col. Andrea Whitney. “In contingency situations where veterinary staff may not be available or the MWD handler is unable to provide emergency medical care, Air Force medics and nurses receive the training to provide that care.”

The training consisted of two stations: station one was working with Critical Care Jerry on bandaging various locations and injuries and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Station two was working with the Diesel Advanced Canine Medical Trainer, better known as Diesel Dog. This dog allowed the teams to train on tracheal intubation, tracheotomy, intravenous catheter placement and needle decompression. “Those are emergency procedures that can help save a dog’s life after common combat injuries such as explosions, gunshots, and other penetrating wounds such as shrapnel,” said Tinker VTF, Dr. Heather Cameron, Veterinary Medical Officer.

Diesel Dog is a full body simulator that simulates breathing (adjustable from slow to panting), bleeding, palpable pulses, audio (barking or whimpering). Critical Care Jerry is engineered as a complete emergency room veterinary training mannikin. It simulates trauma and features jugular and vascular access.

Also brought into the training was a military working dog, This (pronounced Dees) and his handler, Senior Airman Jasmin Ramirez from the 72nd Security Forces Squadron. Specialist Baldemar Gonzalez, veterinary technician with the Tinker VTF demonstrated landmarks on This’ leg and where to insert an intravenous catheter. The students did not actually insert the catheter into This’ leg, but instead practiced inserting catheters on a gauze roll that was made to simulate a canine leg.
This and Ramirez were also on hand at the training to help technicians and nurses get a better understanding of what the military working dogs and their handlers do.

• Date Taken: 11.07.2022
• Date Posted: 11.07.2022 12:08
• Story ID: 432789
• Location: US