Photo By Spc. Derron Dickinson | Staff Sgt. Michael Corkrum, a combat medic and chief instructor for Camp Victory's...... read more read more
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By Spc. D. A. Dickinson
28th Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Camp Victory's Combat Lifesaver Course reached a milestone when it graduated its 100th student, March 28.
Graduates belonging to 55 units — including civilians and members of every component of the armed forces — have been through the course.
CLS teaches participants how to treat major life-threatening battlefield injuries and prepares them to act as a step between first aid and professional medical attention.
"They've performed very well," said Sgt. Ty Henery, a Witmer Clinic ambulance chief with the 285th Area Medical Supply Company. He is the IV instructor for the course. "I was pretty impressed with the speed at which they picked it up. Some of this stuff isn't really easy."
The course has been tailored to meet the specific demands of conflict in Iraq, said Staff Sgt. Michael Corkrum, a combat medic with Task Force 3 who serves as the chief instructor.
"We're oriented towards teaching three major preventable life threats: major hemorrhaging, airway obstruction and tension pneumothorax," he said.
As part of the theater-specific adaptation of the course, it was shortened in duration and its practical exercises were intensified, Henery said.
"They've made it more tactical — almost like a minimedic school," he said.
The three-day course culminates in a mass casualty exercise: Tactical Combat Casualty Care.
"It's basically a culmination of everything they've learned on the previous two days," Corkrum said. "They do it with full battle-rattle so they get used to doing it for real."
One student who participated in a similar class seven years ago said he thought the changes were an improvement.
"This is really good," said Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Waggoner, environmental noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) for Victory Base Complex. "They've really made it theater specific, so there's a lot of good, practical information.
"They've really improved it," he said. "Now we use a tourniquet more freely. Before, they were worried about losing a limb, now, they're more worried about saving a life."
Waggoner said the course instructors were outstanding.
"They're really good," he said. "You can tell they're very knowledgeable."
That medical knowledge can be used by anyone in practically any environment — including the relative safety of Camp Victory, Corkrum said.
"Anyone can potentially call upon their skills. Statistically, about three from every class apply them on the battlefield," he said.
While he said he prefers being outside the wire, Corkrum feels that teaching the class allows him to accomplish more.
"As a combat medic, I feel my place is outside the wire with the combat troops, but the way the war is, a lot of us are not," he said. "Now, there are 100 people who can do what I do — or at least the first steps. By extension, I can be a lot more effective."
| Date Taken: | 04.05.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 04.05.2007 07:13 |
| Story ID: | 9778 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 201 |
| Downloads: | 169 |
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