[Mid] OT No! Not the Needle!

Hello –

Well, this week was rather short due to the end of a four day holiday on Monday. But it was still full of interesting things.

My beautiful wife and I spend the weekend in “Army Lodging” which was pretty nice. There is a US Cavalry Museum on Fort Riley so being an Armored Cavalry Officer, I, of course, had to make a “pilgrimage” to it. It was very nice and showed Revolutionary War, Mexican-American, Civil War, Indian Wars, Spanish American War, Mexican Punitive Expedition, and then the change over to mechanization during WW II and even some light on what Fort Riley was like during the late 19th Century. (Life at Fort Riley was supposed to be so good that that is where the term the “Life of Riley” came from.) It was nice little walk through history.

Unfortunately, we went on a Sunday and found that the Gift Shop part of it and the 1st Infantry Division Museum was closed. Needless to say, I hope to make a point of visiting again so I can pick up some memorabilia as well. After all, the battle history of the “Big Red One” is something to be admired. This is a Division that landed at Omaha Beach where we lost 4,000 Americans in two hours time, taking 30% casualties, and yet the “Greatest Generation” drove on and defeated the Nazi’s regardless. So with that in mind, I will try again to get to that museum.

We also went Manhattan and Junction City. I picked up a holder for my Camelbak so I could attach it directly to my IBA (Interceptor Body Armor) and some magazine holders so I could keep one magazine on my M4 and attach more pistol magazines as well.

Both towns were nice but kind of small so we decided to see what “west” to Topeka was like. We got to the west edge of the city and found a nice area with a large mall, a Barnes & Noble, several restaurants, and a nice movie theater. We visited the mall where I had my watch battery changed. (This hadn’t been done since I exchanged the watch in Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina so I figured now was a good time so it wouldn’t die on me in Iraq.) I found some “picks” for weapons cleaning, bought some Sci-Fi books at Barnes & Noble, and saw two movies with my beautiful wife. (We saw” Cloverfield” which was like “Blair Witch Project” meets “Godzilla.” I can’t recommend that one to see twice. And we saw “Charlie Wilson’s War” which I thought was entertaining and very well done.) While out and about, I managed to pick up some small things such as a reading light and a small cooler to make life in the barracks more comfortable. I even sent home a bag of stuff with my beautiful wife as I didn’t think there would be a need for it all in Iraq.

On Tuesday, we had more language classes and communications equipment classes on SINCGARS radios and the Army version of a Motorola Radio which enables us to talk to SINCGARS based radios as well. Now SINCGARS is pretty special. It has a system in it that basically uses “frequency hopping” technology. Each radio “channel” is actually several radio channels that are preset to literally hop in a preset manner through several radio channels at once while you are talking back and forth. I have to admit that is pretty impressive. My only complaint is I wish they made the radio channel selector switches more like the old PRC-77’s rather then “windows based system” they use now. I think the old system of switches is faster and more user friendly is why. But then again, I am not an engineer nor was I raised on Windows like the newer generation is. I have worked on it before, but it is always good to have some review. And there are always changes as things progress.

Now here comes the part which is probably going to drive my “medical profession” friends absolutely crazy. I spent the last four (4) days learning how to be a “Combat Lifesaver” which is basically in civilian terms a very basic “EMT.” (Probably not even that, but remember I am trying to translate this into civilian terms so this isn’t going to be perfect no matter how I say it). And if you are thinking I can give you medical training, please don’t. Watching or listening to me do this is like watching “Discovery Channel” and then saying your qualified afterwards. So don’t do it and find a professional or have a class. At all times, listen to a professional as I am definitely not an expert at medical issues.

First, we had classes on how important this was all. The average person has ten minutes from the time they are hurt till the time where they could have been saved. In combat, this equates to one (1) minute to achieve suppression on the enemy so the wounded can be helped with having more wounded in the process. Then you have one (1) minute to decide who is going to help the wounded Soldier. It takes about a minute to troubleshoot the wounded Soldier, and then you have in actuality seven (7) minutes to perform procedures which hopefully will save that Soldiers life. Only about fifteen (15%) percent of wounded can be saved per the class. Those wounded have either a blocked air passage, collapsed lung, or a major loss of blood.

The Quick Clot is actually pretty amazing stuff. The trainers showed us videos of tests on animals where the bleeding was actually stopped by Quick Clot Bandages. Quick Clot causes a chemical reaction which causes the bleeding to be seared shut.

There was then the “Chitosan” dressing. This is literally made from shell fish. It is used for major bleeding and will seal a wound shut in four minutes or less. It is a really big step from the old “pressure bandages” which I originally started in the Army with.

The basic job of a Combat Lifesaver is his original job in the Army what ever it may be. At all times, when under fire, it is the Soldiers job to return fire first and save the wounded around him second. Why? Because it is widely recognized that if this isn’t done than the Combat Lifesaver/Medic will become a casualty himself. Yes, it is an evil choice but if this isn’t done then there will be more casualties later which nobody in their right mind wants.

We then learned how to do Tourniquets. Again this was a change from my original training in the Army. When I first learned how to do them, the Tourniquet was the “tool” of last resort to stop bleeding. Now it is the first tool on the list. Why? Because stopping the bleeding is the biggest priority. After that, you have time to bandage wounds and this way the Soldier does not lose more precious blood. The new tourniquets were pretty amazing. Before we were always taught to improvise and now we are actually given purpose made tourniquets made out of Velcro and hard plastic.

I also walked up to where one NCO was demonstrating an improvised tourniquet. He then wrapped a piece of cloth around my arm really tight and asked me if that hurt. I had to admit it did somewhat sting. He said good and then proceeded to demonstrate to the others that my pulse had been cut off. And he said that if it hadn’t hurt he would made it tighter and the fact that I felt pain was good. (Note to self, never gut it out in front of medics. They take a perverse joy in causing pain or so it seems.)

After that we learned how to keep an airway clear. This is done via the insertion of a rubber tube in the Soldiers nose. This guarantees keeping the airway clear till higher skill work can take over. We actually had three Soldiers volunteer out of the class and have this done as part of a live demonstration. (They didn’t know what they were volunteering for when asked.)

After that, we learned how to take care of a collapsed lung. This involved sealing a punctured lung with plastic tape, checking to make sure there were no exit wounds, and if necessary, inserting an 18 gauge needle into the Soldiers Chest. Ouch!

We also learned how to use the new pressure bandage. It was called the “Israeli style bandage” which had a plastic “handle” which was used to bend over and literally shove the bandage into the wound as the bandage is wrapped around the wound.

We also learned what to do in some situations. For instance, should a wound have mud, dirt, cloth, or other materials shoved into it, you should just leave it. Why? Because cleaning it out may aggravate the bleeding and its best just to let the professionals handle it in a hospital setting where it is properly managed.

The first job of any Soldier in a combat setting is to return fire and help victims after suppression is achieved. Otherwise more casualties will follow which is something nobody wants. As I stated earlier, it is an ugly choice but a necessary one so at least casualties can be minimized as much as possible.

Triage must be considered at all times. It does not good to work on Soldiers that are going to die anyway when you could use your medical supplies (which you are always short of) on Soldiers you could save. Again, it’s about ugly choices.

We also received training on how to use the radio for a “nine line medevac.” I still had my cards from KFOR so this was “old hat” for me. Please note “Medevac” in Army-ese is the term for a dedicated medical vehicle to come to your location and evacuate a casualty. It could be an ambulance or a helicopter all depending on the seriousness of the wounded and what was available when the request is sent in via radio. CasEvac is where you use non-medical vehicle to evacuate casualties. This is one way to be able to tell the difference between professionals and amateurs when they discuss such issues.

We then got taught how to give IV’s. We all had to do a “practice stick” on another person. (IE each other.) Admittedly, I was not thrilled about this as when I am stuck by a needle I want it to be someone with experience.

I decided to be the initial person to be stuck while my partner (an NCO) did the honors. He went through the numbers and checked to see if I had good veins while the trainer watched. And as luck would have it, I had good veins. The NCO went through the steps and stuck me with the needle. I will be the first to admit that I don’t much like needles so I attempted to focus on another part of the training. I watched a buddy of mine be stuck by his partner. That didn’t help as he had blood gushing all over his forearm so I quickly watched a different part of the room. That helped some. I could feel the needle being moved around in my arm as the NCO put a “saline lock” on the catheter and then attached the bag. It was quite painful. (Did I mention I really hate needles?) Once all this was done then he applied some tape and made sure nothing would move. The trainer then announced he was done and he then removed the tape. (Ouch! Hair!) And then he disconnected the bag, then the tubing, and then the needle. Thank God! It was over!

Now it was my turn. The trainer and I talked a little. I explained I had no experience at this other than inoculating pigs on my Dad’s farm and gave a quick explanation about how it was done. I joked with the NCO he needed to assume the same position as the pigs were held in so it would be something that I was experienced. The trainer lived on a farm and knew what I was talking about so we all had a good laugh.

I then went through the steps. I have to admit it went pretty smoothly but I was pretty tense about doing it. The needle is pretty good sized and surprisingly little of it is used. (Only about a sixteenth of an inch or so.) I didn’t think I had done that well as I didn’t feel like I had kept the needle from moving as much as I would have liked to when I was attaching the saline lock and the bag but it seemed to work out.

We found out afterwards from the trainer that the NCO had caused me quite a bit of pain as he hadn’t kept the needle from moving while he as was attaching to me the tubing and saline lock. The NCO immediately apologized to me and I could tell that the “professional perfectionist” in him was not happy with his own performance. I advised him that we all had to start somewhere and that’s why it was called training. He again apologized and I again stressed to him to not worry about it as “stuff happens.” I was told I actually did pretty well. I was quite surprised by this as I didn’t think I did all that well as the NCO had bled some during the process. The NCO advised me that he was as he put it “a bleeder” and had the same issue when he got tattoos as well. Either way we were done and I was just glad that part of the training was over.

The next day we took a written test. I passed and then did several “hands on” tests as well. I am now an “Army Certified” Combat Lifesaver. I am glad I have this training but admittedly hope I never have to really use the training I now have.

The last day we went through a couple of training exercise’s to put all our skills together. We first went through a “mock village” with “role play” actors acting as Iraqi locals. I was pretty much a “riflemen” for this part of the training so other than pull security, I really didn’t do much.

We also did a “mass casualty” exercise where we had to quickly evacuate a building. That was pretty cool. It was dark and filled full of smoke. We had to go in as “buddy teams” (my partner this time was a LTC (Lieutenant Colonel) and find screaming casualties in the dark. When I went in, I grabbed my partner by the straps on his pistol holster and led the way with “Surefire” flashlight. If I hadn’t done this, we would have easily gotten separated as it was so dark. We literally had to find the “mock casualties” by their screams. We pulled one out. Bandaged his “wound” up and went back in to find more. I had to drag my partner out when I heard that we had ten (10) seconds left to leave or the building would collapse on us.

Once out, we had to grab our casualties that we found and reassure them that things would be okay and do any work that needed to be done to stabilize them till help arrived. We had to tackle one guy. I had a guy that had a “missing leg” and he wanted me to “find his leg.” He also had young woman with him that was hurt and she wanted me to back in and find “the leg.” She then announced that she would go in and find it herself. (Its amazing what panic will do to people.) I knew I couldn’t let that happen so I grabbed her by the jacket while holding the hand of the first casualty and simply yanked her off balance and pulled her down to the ground. Another Soldier saw this and then “sat” on her to make sure she wouldn’t go anywhere. At that point “EndEx” (end exercise) was called I then asked the young lady if she was okay from being yanked off balance and brought down hard. She smiled and said it was no problem as she knew it was all part of the “drill” and both “casualties” wished me a good day and went on break. I asked my partner if he understood why I grabbed him by the straps in the building. And he said he understood perfectly as it was so dark and smoky we would have gotten easily separated otherwise. All in all, things worked out for a training exercise.

After that we had a briefing to go to and were able to call it a day. I spent the rest of the day doing my laundry, watching some videos with buddies, and we actually got to go out and eat in Manhattan which was a nice change from the DFAC (dining facility.)

Today we had a “cook out” and watched TEAM AMERICA on DVD here. It was nice to be able to relax a little. Just being able to get some rest and get things back in order so I could be prepared for the next week made it a great day as it was.

Oh, remember the “medic’s mantra” and I quote, “Pain is the patient’s problem, not yours. And then there is Commander Toohey rule, “Casualties are to continue firing as long as they are physically capable of doing so.” (Commander Toohey is the commander of a SEAL team.)

I did see in my e-mail from Armed Forces Press Releases the following articles:

1. Medical Operations Helps Iraqi Children, Families BY Armed Forces Press Release

2. Commander in Iraq States Progress, Warns Against Withdrawing Too Fast BY Armed Forces Press Release

3. Troops Kill 20 Suspected Terrorists, Nab 16 BY Armed Forces Press Release

4. Engineers Overcome Challenges To Build Electricity Substation In Iraq BY Armed Forces Press Release

5. Crews Brave Enemy Fire To Save Soldiers BY Armed Forces Press Release

6. Coalition Kills 13 Insurgents, Detains Three During Operations BY Armed Forces Press Release

7. Iraqi Unit Sheds Old Taboos Through Civic Action In Kirkuk BY Armed Forces Press Release

I can’t help but shake my head and wonder why good news such as this isn’t given the time of day in the mainstream media.

Stay in touch,

Jim

or

James Leach
CPT, Armor

My front is pushed back. My right gives way. Situation excellent! I am attacking!
- Ferdinand Foch, c.1916

From: "Leach, James J CPT RES USAR FORSCOM" <james.leach1@us.army.mil>
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Received on Mon Jan 28 01:01:19 2008