Security of the badly injured soldier and individual in a state of deep hypothermia and their evacuation by chopper – these are tasks for students from the 2nd Search and Rescue Group during training organized by the WIM Medical Simulation Centre. The chopper trainer and advanced simulators were utilized to execute the exercises.
During combat, a soldier is injured as a consequence of a mine explosion. Rescuers from the 2nd Search and Rescue Group from Minsk Mazowiecki are sent to rescue. On the scene, it turns out that the victim is unconscious and has many injuries, including an amputated right leg below the knee, intense hemorrhaging from a wound in the pelvic area, respective chest wounds and a burned right arm.
The situation is dangerous, the enemy is inactive being shelled, so rescuers are being lowered off the chopper deck on the ropes. They give injured people help, they put on stasis for the amputated limb, they cover the bleeding from the groin, they put on chest dressings, they defend the airways, they give strong painkillers. After a while, the fire is approaching adequate to require immediate evacuation. The injured in the stretcher, the alleged basket, is dragged on board the helicopter, and rescuers join it. On their way to the field hospital, they inactive carry out lifesaving activities on board.
This was 1 of the scenarios of the medical exercises conducted for soldiers with 2 GPR by the instructors of the Department of medicine of the Fields of Combat and Medical Simulation Military Medical Institute from Warsaw. – This is our first training task for chopper crews. It allows you to practice rescue procedures safely, as well as to work on squad association and communication in it – says Paweł Wiktorzak, a paramedic and head of the WIM Medical Simulation Centre.
Advanced computer-controlled medical simulators from WIM were utilized during the training. – Fantoms with extraordinary precision reflect physiological reactions of the human body, disturbances in vital functions, specified as cardiac arrest or breathing, as well as injuries suffered by soldiers in the field of combat: gunshot wounds, burns or limb amputations," says Łukasz Bilski, teacher at OMPWiSM WIM. This allows you to exercise on them, among others, the treatment of dense bleeding, respiratory irritation or medication.
Training was organized in Łazy close Warsaw in the training centre of the company Assado, conducting, among others, courses on safe work at heights. The company has a rescue chopper trainer W-3 Sokol, utilized by soldiers from Minsk Mazowiecki. “This allows us to map the hard conditions on board the machine, work at height, rescue with line techniques,” explains Lieutenant Artur Skobel, a medical lifeguard from WIM.
The medics are lowered with equipment from the deck, conducting preliminary rescue operations on the ground, then calling the chopper and being taken with the victim. Victorzak states that utilizing a trainer is much cheaper than utilizing a real machine. “Of course, specified training will not replace chopper exercises, but it is simply a large way to refresh your cognition and skills,” adds the Head of the Medical Simulation Centre.
During the two-day training respective doctors and on-board technicians of the 2nd GPR were practicing. Emergency unit in SAR. “Our main task is to safe air accidents, and our crews besides take part in emergency rescue actions,” says young people. Michał Garbić, onboard technician 3 GPR.
At the end of the first scenario, there comes a time to discuss and analyse actions with instructors and students. After a minute of interruption, another simulation begins. This time, rescuers must aid an unconscious fungusist who disappeared in the woods over 24 hours ago. The victim has no injuries, but is in a state of deep hypothermia, or cooling. After medical protection and heating, he is transported aboard the Falcon to the WIM Hospital.
– Rescue skills must be trained regularly and repeat the activities until we are in teams; make muscle memory so that there is no alleged cut-off at the time of the real action – explains Mr. Maciej Moczulski, 1 of the students from the 2nd GPR. He adds that the top challenge in their work is the force of time, due to the fact that frequently the condition of the victim requires fast assistance and evacuation. There is no time to hesitate, and you must act immediately.
Exercisers emphasize that the conditions in the hall do not reflect real work with the helicopter, among others, lacks air momentum or rotor noise, but nevertheless training is very demanding. – I am satisfied with the course, simulations were presented in real time, and hard cases, especially the first with injured soldier who was threatened with fast bleeding, so you had to act rapidly – evaluates the spit. Łukasz Kopczyński, paramedic and anesthesiology caregiver with 2 GPR.
The WIM Medical Simulation Center has been operating since 2017. It offers specialist courses in emergency medicine and medical simulations at both the pre- and infirmary level and in the tactical environment. Training is characterized by advanced realism and includes, among others, handling injuries sustained in the field of combat. Military and civilian doctors, paramedics, nurses, and rescue teams can improve their rescue skills and treatments.
