FORT LEAVENWORTH — When the lives of service men and women are on the line in a combat zone overseas, sometimes the closest thing they will see to a paramedic is a fellow soldier. That’s why Barton Community College provides emergency medical skills to soldiers through Combat Lifesaver (CLS) training.
Soldiers at Fort Leavenworth received the week-long training in late June. The rigorous curriculum consists of 35-40 hours of didactic and practical training, from written tests and classroom work to in-field practice that simulates emergency situations under fire. In the high-pressure, time-constrained scenarios, soldiers are tasked with controlling bleeding, managing airways, treating penetrating chest trauma and initiating evacuation.
“You never know when it’s going to happen,” said Pvt. Chelsea Fry, who underwent CLS training for the first time in June. “This is definitely really hands-on.”
NCO Burt Welch, who secured the training session with Barton for the 256th MP Company, said the classes can help save lives.
Barton’s Executive Director of Technical and Military Programs John Truitt said the course has been offered at Fort Leavenworth for about five years. It’s also available at several other military bases across the United States with plans in place to expand the course offerings even further.
To view a YouTube video on this training on the web: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKxQqFAf8Dk&feature=youtu.be