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CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (February 4, 2009) - Where
there's smoke, there's usually fire. And where there's fire,
there's usually a need for medical assistance.
At least that's the theory behind the medical first responders
training being conducted with Kuwaiti National Guard firefighters
at Camp Tahreer, Kuwait.
"The goal of this course is to give them a basic knowledge of
responding to an emergency call," said Staff Sgt. Christina M.
Ison, 441st Medical Company, Ground Ambulance from Seagoville,
Texas. "They have never had any medical experience besides what we
provided them this week. As a firefighter you are going to respond
to medical calls."
The four-day class includes basic life-saving techniques that
will allow the firefighters to sustain patients before emergency
medical technicians arrive.
"Sometimes it takes a while for EMT to get on scene in an
emergency. [Firefighters] are usually first on scene," said Sgt.
Travis R. Korenek, 441st MC. "Our job here is to basically give
them the foundation into medical aid."
Korenek was able to aid the Kuwaiti soldiers with his medical
training and experience, and his civilian job added credibility to
his training.
"At the beginning of the class I let them know that I am a
firefighter back home. So I know where they're coming from,"
Korenek said. "I do the same job, fighting fires, but the only
difference in the United States is that we can also do
medical."
Ison, from Junction City, Kan., said they were not only giving
these firefighters their first medical training, but also educating
them on what medical procedures they are allowed to perform.
Because they are not certified EMTs, they are only allowed to
give basic treatments. But knowing how to apply bandages to stop
bleeding could mean the difference between life and death for a
casualty.
"In the span of four days we were able to teach them to preserve
life, limb and eyesight ... for that, I think they did really
well," Ison said.
"The last day was a culmination of the four days of training,
putting it into a practical exercise, and letting them get hands on
[experience] from the start of a call to packaging a patient and
getting them ready for transport."
The firefighters were given mock calls during the practical
exercise, and they responded to preset scenes on the camp. They had
to react to both fire and medical issues, just as they would in
real life.
The medical team expressed their approval by presenting the
firefighters a certificate of training, and tasked their former
students to continue training and practicing what they had
learned.
Col. Hashem Refaie, Commander of the Kuwaiti National Guard
Combat Support Command, said he was honored to have the 441st
medics training his firefighters, and that he looks forward to
strengthening the bond between the KNG and their American
counterparts.
"It was a fast class, but it was a foundation," Korenek
said.
"Hopefully they will expand on that, and eventually get their
EMT basic."
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