Iraqi Firefighters Hone First Aid Skills

Multi-National Force - Iraq ^ | Staff Sgt. Luke Koladish, USA

[SandRat]

A bilingual, bicultural advisor with the 364th Civil Affairs Brigade instructs members of the Basrah International Airport fire department during a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation class as part of a four week refresher training hosted by the Baghdad International Airport fire department. Photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Koladish, 114th Public Affairs Detachment.

BASRAH — Fifteen members of the Basrah International Airport fire department conducted Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation training last week at the Baghdad International Airport in an effort to have the two airports certified by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

"The ICAO requires the departments have certain standards; response times, the quality of training, and what their capabilities are," said Lt. Col. Christine M. Nichols, 364th Civil Affairs Brigade.

The Baghdad and Basrah International Airports fall under the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority. In December, the British began sending firefighters to train Iraqis on procedures specific to airports. The sixth and final class here graduated today.

Some of the topics covered were undercarriage fires, working through smoke, engine fires and radio communications with the air traffic control tower. In week three of the training, a building was set ablaze to test the firefighter's ability to work through smoke and fire hose placement.

"They do a good job, they are older, but they are doing well," Basrah Airport fire chief Mahmud Mohammed Saeed said. He has been the primary instructor and supervisor of the refresher training for the veteran firefighters.

The CPR training was conducted by a bilingual, bicultural advisor with the 364th CAB public health team.

"They were already familiar with the concepts of CPR, but had never done a practical exercise," explained an Iraqi doctor of obstetrics and gynecology. "They were able to perform CPR by themselves and in addition learn techniques to help patients who may be choking."

The 364th CAB team worked with the British liaison officers from Basrah to transport the firefighters to Baghdad and provided the CPR instructor.

"They are the first responders and you never know what the firefighters are going to encounter when they go out,” said Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Markay, 364th CAB. “Having the basic first aid training and CPR knowledge could save a life that otherwise may not have been."

(By Staff Sgt. Luke Koladish, 114th Public Affairs Detachment)

[SandRat]

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