Moody's EMTs receive hands-on training

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Eric Schloeffel
  • 347th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Eighteen emergency medical technicians here sharpened their skills during a combined Air Force Emergency Services Instructor and Emergency Medical Technician refresher course at the 347th Medical Group Tuesday through today. 

Six Emergency Medical Services Instructor course students, comprised of Department of Defense civilians, 347th MDG EMTs and 347th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire and Rescue EMTs, began the 72-hour EMS Instructor Training program Aug. 1, and then taught the refresher course to 13 students as part of their overall instructor training. 

The refresher course covered standard EMT procedures, to include lessons on preparatory, airways, patient assessment, medical/behavioral care, trauma, obstetrics, and infant and children care. It also involved new training scenarios to create a hands-on learning environment, said Master Sgt. Mark Soliz, instructor trainee and 347th MDG NCO in charge of education and training. 

"We find the students learn the material a lot better when they're not just sitting at their desk," he said. "We're facing new challenges to help hone and refresh our skills."
One new challenge is a complete patient extraction exercise scheduled today. 

"The exercise involves a vehicle extraction, which is a mockup scenario of a victim trapped in a car," said Kevin Sullivan, student instructor and Fire Flight crew chief. "For the exercise, the students will utilize different techniques including extraction, patient stabilization, oxygen therapy and other precautionary safety methods."
 
The exercise is intended to give the students a realistic hands-on learning experience.
The wide variety of techniques the simulation incorporates is an important lesson to the EMTs, said Tech. Sgt. Robert Scott, instructor trainee. 

"Participating in the (simulation) by wearing all the proper gear and using our equipment enhances our ability to handle the patients," he said. "We also learn personal safety (techniques) and different precautionary methods we need to use in the field." 

The course is open to all EMTs base-wide and is not exclusive to Airmen in the 347th MDG. 

"This course is extremely vital because my unit (822nd Security Forces Squadron) often goes on missions outside the wire (in the deployed environment)," said Tech. Sgt. Barbara Daum, refresher course student. "This helps me refresh my skills in emergency medicine, which helps keep our Airmen alive." 

All students in the course are already nationally registered EMTs but are required by-law to attend refresher training every two years to renew their registrations. 

Requiring the training every two years exposes the EMTs to changes in treatment and care methods, which makes Team Moody safer, said Susan Yeager, EMT coordinator and EMS instructor trainer. 

"It benefits our capabilities to respond to emergencies throughout Moody's (operational missions), as well as military dependents who live in base housing," she said. "Exposing this material to Moody EMTs will increase our emergency response times and definitely make the base safer."