Medics receive hands-on training

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Nancy Ausland
  • 114th Fighter Wing
"I like that we get an opportunity for hands-on training." stated Senior Airman Tylor Haviland, 114th Medical Squadron medic.

Hands-on was the focus for the week-long annual training held at Joe Foss Field, S.D., June 16-22, 2014. Members of the 114th Medical Squadron held a home station annual training week in conjunction with the Air Combat Command Unit Effectiveness Inspection which the entire South Dakota Air National Guard were a part of.

Haviland has only been back from technical training for about 6 months so this is the first time he gets a chance to train with the other 12 medics of the squadron. He is a nursing student at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. and so he looks forward to this training to help him excel as a nurse as well.

"When we can have a chance to train on more realistic patient models, the result is higher proficiency for our medics," said Lt. Col. Jill Tobin, Nursing Executive Officer. "It helps them to become more at ease when actual emergency situations arise."

Medics were given the opportunity to practice several skills to include casting limbs, suturing wounds, and using human patient simulators.

For casting, the medics used each other to apply casts to arms and legs to get a feel for what it would be like to apply a cast to an injured person. They also practice cutting the casts off with a cast saw. The saw vibrates, but does not rotate. If the blade of the saw touches the padding inside the hard shell of the cast, the padding will vibrate with the blade and will protect your skin.

The unit took advantage of the use of a Simulation In Motion - South Dakota (SIMSD) trailer to improve their training. SIMSD is supported by a state-wide grant and is a partnership for emergency patient care in South Dakota with a goal of bringing emergency care education to life.

"Our goal is to give access to state-of-the-art equipment in a non-threatening environment where medical personnel can test and practice their critical thinking reactions and skills." said John Bohlen, a simulation technician with SIMSD.

For the medics, this training was a welcome break from their usual Unit Training Assembly duties. The 13 medics would normally spend their days at UTA giving shots, drawing labs, and assisting with physicals that keep the members of the 114th Fighter Wing medically ready for deployment.

Tobin concluded, "For all, this week of training not only honed critical skills, it was also a team-building experience. I think everyone really enjoyed it."