Aviano Airmen train in self aid, buddy care

Airmen carry a litter over a fence while they travel through an obstacle course designed to test their ability to navigate through different terrain Feb. 6 at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The Airmen are training on self aid and buddy care while preparing for an upcoming tactical evaluation of the base. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Aviano Airmen conduct self-aid, buddy care training

Published Feb. 15, 2007
By Airman 1st Class Justin Goodrich
American Forces Network Aviano

Aviano Air Base, Italy --
Wrapping second- and third-degree burns and splinting bone fractures were just two parts of the self-aid and buddy care training Airmen learned here Feb. 6.

The training will be put to the test during a tactical evaluation in March, and can be essential for Airmen gearing up for deployments to Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom.

"When we're being [evaluated], we know how to take care of one another; and if we're alone, we know how to take care of ourselves," said Airman 1st Class Stephanie Nelson, one of the training participants. "I learned how to carry people. It was pretty cool."
Airmen learned proper litter-carrying techniques to avoid further injury to wounded and, at the same time, learned how to accomplish the task as a team.

"Communication is key," said Tech. Sgt. David Desjardin, 31st Medical Group trainer. "If they're not talking to each other, they're not going to know what the other individual is taking care of."