Airman enhances life-saving capabilities of NATO first responders

Published Jan. 7, 2011
By Senior Airman Melissa B. White
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- An Airman aided NATO first responders with some medical training and obtaining new supplies Jan. 3 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, enhancing their life-saving capabilities in response to incidents.

Staff Sgt. Matt Blitz, 73rd Expeditionary Air Control Squadron independent duty medical technician, hosted the First Responder Self-Aid and Buddy Care training for approximately 25 International Security Assistance Force Military Police members, including Marines, Sailors, Airmen, Slovakians, Canadians and Romanians.

"It was a good experience working with them and seeing that we have some of the same basic care procedures," said Sergeant Blitz, who is deployed from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. "The Slovaks told me that the training they get is usually very basic, so they really appreciated the training."

The hands-on training included proper application of tourniquets, use of combat gauze, splinting, airway management and bleeding control.

"The training was great and it's very valuable to our job as first responders," said Tech. Sgt. Donald Boulette, ISAF Military Police law and order patrolman. "Recently, our patrolmen have been discovering serious traumatic injuries when they respond, and it's always good to have refresher training like this so we can do our best to help save them."

The training they received was given in conjunction with the military police unit also receiving 10 new combat casualty response kits since they needed to replenish their stocks after using supplies in recent incidents. The kits contain essential SABC equipment, including splints, gauze and dressing, that can treat up to three severely wounded patients.

"These IMPs are the first ones there to help the wounded, so if they can use these steps to control bleeding and keep them conscious, it makes it a lot easier for the medics to take care of them when they get there," said Sergeant Blitz, who has been deployed here since the beginning of July. "If a major artery gets hit, they can pass out in three to four minutes, and they could die in seven to eight minutes. So it's very important for them to be able to control that bleeding and keep them conscious and increase their survivability ... that's always a plus."

Sergeant Blitz volunteered to help the ISAF Military Police with the equipment training, but his regular duties include taking care of the Airmen in the 73rd EACS. As their IDMT, he treats patients and has an exam room and a pharmacy, referring more serious cases to the hospital on base.