Treating Airmen outside the wire

Air Force Links ^ | Staff Sgt. Kristina Barrett

[SandRat]

/28/2006 - KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Most medical teams deployed to Iraq treat their patients from the forward operating base, but three Airmen in Kirkuk are taking their knowledge to the streets by providing medical care to security forces troops outside the wire.

The 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron boasts a medical cell attached to the unit comprised of a physician’s assistant and two independent duty medical technicians. Airmen train alongside the security forces members in weapons qualification, performing patrols and convoy training. Then medical training takes off in the form of tactical combat casualty care.

“Our mission is to treat Airmen in a combat environment,” said Capt. Edward Smith, a physician’s assistant who has been with the unit for two years and is head of the medcell team. “We are there for traumas and injuries. In addition, we are able to stabilize a patient in a hot zone if transportation out isn’t available.”

Providing care from the front is no easy task, but it’s one that earns them a place on the security forces team.

“We have a special bond with security forces -- we are a part of their family,” said Tech. Sgt. Barbara Daum, IDMT who has been with the unit for two years. “In a normal clinic environment, it’s touch and go -- you don’t have the constant contact that keeps you in touch with each other.

“That’s the difference when you go outside the wire -- you have to depend on each other,” she added.

Captain Smith says trust is what keeps the whole team working as one in life-threatening situations. Trust, and being confident in each other’s skills.

“I trust that the security is there when I need them,” Captain Smith said.

“I don’t have to think about my own safety or security because I know security forces members are watching out for me. I can concentrate on working on the patient because I know and trust the Airmen of the unit,” he said.

Even though the members of the medcell have different jobs then their brothers and sisters in security forces, sometimes the line between the two career fields doesn’t exist.

“I feel like I belong to them and it’s a good feeling,” Sergeant Daum said. “I’d rather be in ditches with these Airmen than in a clinic any day.”

She said security forces Airmen are trained to take care of one another, which is what they do when in patrols throughout the countryside, but she can give something back by taking care of them, too.

Although there isn’t normally an opportunity for these Airmen to offer medical care to the civilians outside the base, if needed, they can respond. However, there are limitations because everything they need is on their vest, which limits the quantity and variety of the supplies they can take.

“Sometimes we have civilians come up to us and ask us to help them,” Captain Smith said. “We mostly carry just the basics and what we need for traumas.”

The team doesn’t carry the medications needed for long-term care and follow-up care. The help they do provide is dependent on whatever care the civilian can get from a clinic or hospital. Regardless, Sergeant Daum said it’s rewarding to be able to do whatever they can for the Iraqi people.

In addition to their activities outside the wire, the team also conducts post visits for the Airmen performing the base defense mission. The team has portable equipment to perform most exams.

“We conduct health and safety inspections on the troops in the towers,” Captain Smith said. “We ask questions like if they have noticed a large amount of insects, such as mosquitoes, in the area, which could be an indication of Malaria, and try to address those issues before they become problems.”

Staff Sgt. Joseph Keddie is the third member of the medcell team and the youngest in terms of how long he’s been with them -- only about eight months. Because the IDMT job is on a volunteer basis, he said you really have to want to do the job and do it right.

“The Airmen of security forces depend on us,” he said. The best thing we can do is help the Airmen and make the right diagnosis.”

Even though the job can be a little tedious at times, he said he looks forward to doing the job every day.

As long as security forces has the medcell, they have their own built-in insurance policy.