MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic corpsmen recently completed their training in the Emergency Medical Technician Basic course here April 26.
Seven corpsmen, ranging from seamen to petty officers, took part in the course that tested them over the basic skills they would need to be certified as emergency medical technicians.
The corpsmen studied quick assessments in how to give specific treatment for various life-threatening conditions, such as severe bleeding and shock, allergic reactions, diabetic conditions, fractures, and breathing difficulty. They also learned how to extract, lift and carry patients, as well as immobilize patients onto spine boards and other equipment in case of care accidents or sever spine injuries.
“The residents should be reassured in the knowledge that our EMTs are providing the best care and skill until we can get them to that next echelon of care, whether at the clinic or out to a local hospital,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Katie M. Zirkle, emergency vehicle operator and course instructor.
Normally, the civilian equivalent of the course takes place over three months. The EMT-B course was condensed into a four week period. The reduction in time was done to cut down on the corpsmen being away from the Branch Health Clinic. Periods of instruction were conducted in the morning followed by practical applications in the afternoon.
The course reasserted the practices the corpsmen may have forgotten during their time in advanced school.
“It definitely served as a refresher for a lot of knowledge that was taught at advanced school,” said Seaman Apprentice Xavier C. Barker, course participant. The corpsmen had to take in all the information the course offered in such a short amount of time due to its condensed timeframe and class length.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Tiffany A. Declue, a course participant and BHC emergency vehicle operator, said the course’s fast pace was challenging and forced her to think on her feet.
The EMT-B course’s certification is two-sided. With the certification in hand, corpsmen will have the opportunity to not only advance within their ranks and broaden their range of skills making them more well-rounded corpsmen, but also should any decide not to re-enlist the certification will provide them the opportunity for better job placement in the civilian sector.
“Just because someone was a corpsman does not mean they can just go to a hospital, say they were a corpsman and become hired within a hospital,” said Lt. Cmdr. Stella Annunziato, education and training urgent care clinic department head of staff. “When you go back to the civilian sector you don’t get to do that. You have to be licensed and being an EMT affords you that chance.”
Corpsmen often have firsthand experience from their time working in clinics, hospitals or in the field. This can present a conflict when corpsmen participate in the course.
Separating what the students need to learn as an EMT versus what corpsmen already know from advanced school and real-life experiences can sometime create roadblocks as they learn said Zirkle.
Assessing an emergency situation is an instance where such a roadblock can present itself.
The corpsmen were tested over all the areas they had reviewed for the last several weeks at the BHC. Each scenario was set up as a station.
Some of the scenarios involved the corpsmen simply reciting the steps they would take in case of a victim falling and being unresponsive. Another scenario involved several corpsmen working together to stabilize a victim’s broken leg in a shunt. All seven passed the practical application test.
Following the course and test, the corpsmen will be required to take the national registry exam.
The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians is a nationally recognized organization established in 1970 to provide standards, official practices and examinations for EMTs.
The course is offered several times throughout the year and will be open to all qualified personnel in the upcoming months.