Army Staff Sgt. Douglas Whitney, 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, instructs members of the Iraqi Federal Police during a Combat Life Saver certification course at Baghdad’s Camp Prosperity, June 9, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Melissa Shaw.
Posted on 06/18/2010 8:33:39 AM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD –Throughout June, U.S. Soldiers with the 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team have been teaching Army Combat Lifesaver (CLS) skills to members of Iraq's Federal Police here at the Iraqi capital's Camp Prosperity.
Army Staff Sgt. Douglas Whitney, 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, instructs members of the Iraqi Federal Police during a Combat Life Saver certification course at Baghdad’s Camp Prosperity, June 9, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Melissa Shaw.
A CLS is a non-medic with moderate emergency medical training who is able to provide aid at the scene of an injury. Although intended for use in combat, these skills may also be applied in non-combat situations.
Soldiers are trained to function as a CLS secondary to their primary mission; undertaken only when the tactical situation permits. They are taught that returning fire and maintaining personal safety is paramount to providing medical care to a casualty.
Students were instructed by Staff Sgt. Douglas Whitney, of the 72nd IBCT, Joint Area Support Group-Central, in various techniques to treat and stabilize injuries related to combat, including, but not limited to, blast injury, amputation, severe bleeding, penetrating chest injuries, simple airway management, and evacuation techniques.
The Combat Lifesaver doctrine was developed as an effort to increase survivability in combat environments where a combat medic may not be readily available.
The CLS is not intended to take the place of medical personnel, but to slow deterioration of a wounded soldier's condition until medical personnel arrive. It is considered a bridge between self aid or buddy aid, and the Combat Medic.
"After just a few tries, the Federal Police members got the hang of the unfamiliar lifts," said Capt. Kelly Wilhelms of San Antonio, Texas, with the 56th Sustainment Brigade Federal Police Training Team.
After some time practicing lifts, the students moved on to the practical testing portion where several scenarios were presented requiring them to perform a variety of techniques to stabilize and evacuate a casualty.
At the end of the training all students received certificates acknowledging their participation in the course.
"I know the American Army Soldiers are already familiar with this information but this is the first time I've watched our Iraqi colleagues participate in something like this," said Wilhelms at the end of the day.
"Throughout the day, they have been telling us they really enjoyed the opportunity to be here with us. Some of our training and information is new and some is not. Either way, they will be taking a great experience back with them,” he concluded.
My First Sergeant use to call the class "Combat Life-taker."
I’ve found that for the most part, the Iraqis are very enthusiastic about the wide variety of training they are receiving from their US allies.
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