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Iraqi medics receive MEDEVAC training

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers and airmen show Iraqi security forces the proper way to carry a patient on a...... read more read more

CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION WARRIOR, IRAQ

08.24.2010

Courtesy Story

United States Division-North

By Pfc. Jessica Luhrs

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq – Troops from Georgia and Kansas joined forces last month to give medical evacuation training to ten medics with the Iraqi security forces at Contingency Operating Site Warrior, near Kirkuk, Iraq.

The course was facilitated by medics with 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry, 2nd Advise and Assist, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, Ga.; flight medics with 2nd Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, out of Fort Riley, Kan.; and Iraqi emergency medical technicians, who previously graduated from a five-week course.

The training began with litter construction; during which the experienced flight medics with 1st CAB gave the Iraqi medics tips to make the process faster and safer for the patient.

After mastering litter construction the medics moved onto cold- and hot-load training.

“During this part of the training the Iraqi EMT’s first learned to load the patient without the rotor system running. Then after we knew they were ready, we turned the rotor on and began hot-load training,” said Sgt. Matthew Giersdorf, a flight medic with Company C, 1st CAB.

He continued by saying the hot load is the most important part of the training.

“We have to make sure they are familiar with loading a patient onto a Black Hawk with the rotors running so we know they are prepared for a real-life emergency,” he said.

At the end of the training Sgt. Giersdorf, a native of Mooselake, Minn., said that he was very impressed by the Iraqi EMT’s willingness to learn.

“As soon as the class began they were very professional, worked hard and were ready to learn what we were teaching them,” he concluded.