Corpsmen conduct heat casualty training

Photo By Lance Cpl. Kasey Peacock | Seaman Jaron B. Kilbury is covered in ice water during heat casualty training conducted at the Kinser Group Aid Station on Camp Kinser April 5. The method shown is primarily used in a field environment and consists of wrapping the victim in an ice cold sheet and pouring water and ice until the victim’s temperature is lowered. Kilbury is a corpsman with Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.  

CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

04.05.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Kasey Peacock 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP KINSER, Japan - Corpsmen from the Kinser Group Aid Station conducted heat casualty training at the medical facility here April 5.

Medical facilities across Okinawa are conducting the heat casualty training in preparation for Okinawa’s intense summer heat.
Marine Corps Order 6200.1E, the order governing the Marine Corps Heat Injury Prevention Program, mandates all medical facilities to conduct the training a month prior to an increase in heat stress.

“I wanted to really drive home the main points as to why we conduct this training,” said Cmdr. Steven M. Kriss, director of sports medicine at the aid station and deputy surgeon, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “An increase in temperature mixed with high humidity can cause a lot of issues for our Marines conducting training. We also know our Marines train hard, and we have to be prepared for that.”

Kriss, who conducted the training, began with a presentation refreshing the corpsmen on signs and symptoms of heat-related issues, basic treatment techniques, dangers of heat-related injuries and treating heat stroke.

The training continued as three corpsmen volunteered to serve as mock casualties during the practical application demonstrations. The sailors were instructed on how to treat heat stroke using various methods including the ice water-submersion method.

“I volunteered because I know how important this training is for our corpsmen,” said Seaman Apprentice Zachary S. McDonald, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd MLG, III MEF, who volunteered as a casualty. “I have dealt with heat casualties before and with the summer coming up it is a perfect opportunity for us to focus on our heat casualty training.”

The methods are mainly used in a field environment and are virtually the same. They include of wrapping the victim in an ice cold sheet filled with water and ice and then continually pouring water and ice until the victim has cooled down, or emergency personal have arrived, according to Kriss.

“In the field, you do not always have many options,” said Kriss. “These methods require very little equipment and can be very effective in cooling down a victim.”

The method proven to work best is the ice water-submersion method which consists of fully submerging a victim in a tub of water and ice and continually pouring water over the victims head, according to Kriss.

“It was great to see our corpsmen in action showing what they are capable of,” said Navy Lt. Jessica L. Schwartz, a senior medical officer with CLR-37. “It is especially important for us to have this training on Camp Kinser because 3rd MLG has the biggest group of corpsmen on Okinawa.”

Kriss concluded by stressing the importance of this training, noting that Okinawa’s subtropical/tropical climate produces a unique heat and humidity combination that can be potentially dangerous to service members not taking the proper precautions.

• Date Taken: 04.05.2012
• Date Posted: 04.11.2012 23:33
• Story ID: 86597
• Location: CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, JP