Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Cory Grogan | The Oregon National Guard’s 641st Aviation Regiment medics received comprehensive...... read more read more
The Oregon National Guard’s 641st Aviation Regiment medics received comprehensive paramedic training at the Major Larry Diebert Flight Facility in Salem, Oregon on Feb. 3, 2024, and is the same training civilian paramedics are required to take annually.
In 2013, the U.S. Army mandated that all Army flight medics be certified paramedics, setting a standard for emergency medical proficiency within its ranks. This strategic move is aimed at enhancing the capabilities of flight medics, recognizing the critical role they play in providing emergency medical care in diverse and challenging environments.
One of the cornerstones of this initiative is the annual credentialing requirements for recertification as a paramedic. This ensures that Army flight medics maintain the highest standards of proficiency, in-line with the evolving landscape of pre-hospital emergency medical care.
This initiative serves a dual purpose, benefiting both flight medics as part-time Soldiers and civilians alike. The National Guard offers the same medic-paramedic training that various agencies, including fire departments, EMS, and other first responders, undergo annually. This standardized training underscores the National Guard's commitment to professionalism and expertise and is provided at no cost to part-time soldiers, enabling them to obtain a professional credential that can be updated annually.
Willy Giddings, a seasoned paramedic and EMS trainer with the City of Salem, Oregon, Fire Department delivered the training that includes advanced cardiac life support, pre-hospital trauma life support, and pediatric advanced life support. Notably, these training hours contribute to the recertification process, ensuring that flight medics remain updated on advanced-level medical treatments, Giddings said.
“The holistic training approach ensures that flight medics are not only equipped to handle complex medical scenarios but are also proficient in fundamental life-saving techniques.”
The inception of the program can be credited to the vision of Battalion Command Sgt. Maj Patrick Casha, who coordinated the training and brought this to the unit more than five years ago.
“This commitment to comprehensive training exemplifies why the National Guard stands out as the service of choice for those seeking excellence in emergency medical services,” Casha said.
Gidding said the flight medic training not only fulfills Army mandates but goes above and beyond, offering a model that blends civilian and military expertise to the highest standards of emergency medical care within the military while strengthening the capabilities of part-time Citizen-Soldiers.
| Date Taken: | 02.03.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 02.05.2024 14:25 |
| Story ID: | 463126 |
| Location: | SALEM, OREGON, US |
| Web Views: | 1,116 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, National Guard Approach to Flight Medic Training Bridges Civilian & Military Expertise for Paramedic Certification, by SFC Cory Grogan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
