Al Udeid AB, Qatar -- In an effort to enhance contingency and wartime response capabilities, the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group held three Tactical Combat Casualty Care introduction courses at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar from Oct. 16-24, 2019.
TCCC is the standard of care for pre-hospital battlefield medicine. The training builds on the current Self-Aid Buddy Care course that service members currently receive by teaching service members how to provide the most effective trauma care during combat. Following completion of the course, Airmen are better prepared to support and care for injured service members until medical personnel arrive.
“This is important because it allows us to return our members back to the fight,” said Tech. Sgt. Erin Duke, 379th Medical Operations Squadron non-commissioned officer in charge of the care clinic and emergency room. “We all have a mission here and if the threat becomes a reality then we all have ways that we can provide different levels of care to save each other.”
The course covers the basic skills of the TCCC program, an introduction to TCCC supplies, and a short briefing on the locations and capabilities available at installation casualty collection points.
These skills include nasopharyngeal airway insertion, wound packing and tourniquet application. The course concentrates on controlling bleeding and airway management which are essential to saving lives during hostile combat conditions.
The intent is to reduce preventable combat deaths through a means that allows a unit to complete its mission while providing the best possible care for casualties, according to Duke.
“There was a lot of good information,” said Tech. Sgt. Quadarious Fitts, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Sexual Assault Prevention victims advocate. “I have never put a tourniquet on a leg in my career so I think it’s something a lot more people could benefit from.”
Duke has set up the course to get a better understanding of what people already know and what peaks their interest.
“I would really love for people to be able to take the information they learn during this class and share it with their work centers,” stated Duke. “You don’t have to be in medical to be an instructor.”
The course is designed to enhance training Air Force service members currently receive in preparation for a deployment. It is expected to take the place of SABC training in the near future.