New first-aid products, techniques coming for all Soldiers
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by Hugh C. Laughlin/TRADOC News Service FORT MONROE, Va. (TRADOC News Service, Jan. 19, 2005) – U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command will start a revised first-aid training program for all Soldiers this spring. Fort Knox, Ky. has been the site of a six-month pilot program for this new first-aid training. “We are currently training all basic trainees in basic first aid that has not changed significantly in the last generation,” said Maj. Ron Ellyson, senior physician assistant for TRADOC. This training routine conducted during basic combat training currently covers evaluating a casualty, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, controlling bleeding, splint fractures, treating burns, transporting a casualty, administering a nerve-agent antidote and practicing good field sanitation and hygiene, according to Ellyson. “We have identified situations where a Soldier who has responded to a casualty or injured buddy could have known more to make a better intervention,” Ellyson said. This new first-aid training is important because there are some new products for first aid that are superior to the ones currently being used. “One is the emergency trauma dressing that combines the dressing with elastic tails that add pressure,” said Ellyson. “So instead of having to apply field dressing, then padding and more dressing, the new trauma dressing is both field dressing and pressure dressing in one item that is more effective in controlling bleeding.”
A new first-aid technique that will be taught to all Soldiers will help airway problems by using a large-bore needle to remedy a decompressed lung. “If something has penetrated the chest, collapsing the lung, you will seal the place where the projectile entered, then provide another outlet for the air trapped to escape, allowing the lung to fill again,” Ellyson said. “This is a technique that can be employed in the field by all Soldiers.” This chest-decompression technique creates an intentional airway for trapped air to escape from a sucking chest wound, according to Ellyson. These revisions to the first-aid training, drawn from lessons learned, will be included in the warrior tasks. The training will now include these new products and techniques for controlling bleeding, airway injuries, a new tourniquet, transporting a casualty for all Soldiers and decision-making skills while under fire. “Some
have said that our first-aid training has not changed since the Civil
War,” said Ellyson. “We are making these changes to effectively
help Soldiers survive on the battlefield.” |
A Soldier with 2d Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, renders aid to a team member with a simulated gunshot wound during urban combat training in Baghdad, Iraq. Revisions to first-aid training, drawn from lessons learned, will be included in the warrior tasks. Training will include new products and techniques for controlling bleeding, airway injuries, a new tourniquet, transporting a casualty for all Soldiers and decision-making skills while under fire. View and/or save high-resolution photo |
Another
new product is the combat application tourniquet. “The CAT is self-contained,
and you do not need to find a stick to tighten the tourniquet,”
described Ellyson. “A windlass is now included with the tourniquet.”