8/3/2019 Medical Simulator provides realistic training

1/18 FEBRUARY 2012

IN

FRONT

By JENNIFER MATTSON NCO Journal

Darkness envelops the Soldiers as they try to maneu-

ver to a wounded Soldier. A gunght blares throughthe smoke, and they see pools o blood on the

ground. More blood appears as they round the corner.Tese Soldiers arent in Aghanistan or Iraq or even

at the Army Medical Departments home o Fort SamHouston, exas. Teyre at a Medical Simulation rainingCenter at Fort Bliss, exas, one o 18 in the Army that pro-

vide realistic Combat Lie Saver training. Te specializedmannequins the centers use are able to simulate shortnesso breath, lost appendages and loss o blood, allowing Sol-

diers to train in actually dressing a wound properly beor

deploying downrange.Sgt. 1st Class Warren Wright, the NCO in charge at th

Fort Bliss medical simulation center, said the training iscritical to helping Soldiers learn CLS tasks properly beorthey deploy.

Te best benet rom this training is that they can getin and see exactly what it takes beore they get into com-bat, Wright said.

Te alternative to the Medical Simulation rainingCenter is to have Soldiers treat each other. Tis kind otraining, though, is oentimes improperly done. Soldierscant bandage each other correctly because applying somuch pressure can cause bruises or broken bones.

On the other hand, the medical simulation centersmannequins can also have needles stuck in them and cansimulate what would happen when a Soldier gives pre-scription drugs or administers an IV to someone who hassufered various injuries in combat.

Te CLS course is a bridge between what is taught atbasic training and the medical training a combat medicreceives. Because, or example, administering an IV is nolonger part o basic training, every Soldier is no longerCombat Lie Saver-trained when leaving basic.

In addition to certiying Soldiers in Combat Lie Saverskills, the Medical Simulation raining Center also certi-

es 68W combat medics. Certication is required or bottwice a year. Last year, the Fort Bliss Medical Simulationraining Center trained 4,080 students.

Soldiers certied in CLS are trained to address thepoint o injury, care under re and tactical combat casualcare. In addition, they become amiliar with whats in atypical combat care bag as they go through this training.

Te Soldiers can see the equipment, Wright said.Tey can see whats in the bag and how to use it. Tey cabecome amiliar with the tools theyll have at their disposwhen they go downrange.

Te Medical Simulation raining Center also addressethe two biggest causes o preventable death on the battle-

eld: hemorrhaging and tension pneumothorax (trappedair or gas between the lung and the chest wall).

Commanders and rst sergeants really see the valueadded benet o combat lie savers, Wright said. Tey ara orce multiplier, and oentimes commanders want 100percent o their Soldiers to be combat lie savers.

Te Army usually ocuses on beans and bullets, butnow were looking into blood and guts, too, he said.

1st Armored Division Soldiers are evaluated after an

exercise Nov. 30 at the Fort Bliss Medical Simulator Trainin

Center. After completing the lanes tasks, the senior medicconducts an after-action review. PHOTO BY JENNIFER MATTSON

Better than realTraining with new, state-of-the-art mannequinssafer than sticking your battle buddy with a needle