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Guard Members Instruct Life-Saving Skills in El Salvador

  • Published
  • By Joseph Siemandel,
  • Washington National Guard

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Washington National Guard members have instructed Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Combat Medic training in El Salvador.

They worked with the Defense Institute for Medical Operations on the training that was held Feb. 22 to March 8.

“I volunteered and was selected to be an instructor based on things that we have done with the Thai military through the State Partnership Program and the Washington Counterdrug Program,” said Master Sgt. Shane Bedard, who is an aerospace medical sergeant with HQ Washington Air National Guard. “A couple of our medics and a physician assistant got picked up as well through the program and will support future missions throughout the year.”

The instructors worked with military members and civilians to identify specific training and engagements and provided certified medical instruction for the El Salvadorian participants.

“This group was experienced, and students’ backgrounds encompass various professional areas, including general/orthopedic surgeons, pediatric nurse practitioners, and medics,” Bedard said.

The training emphasized improvisation techniques for various medical interventions, offering realistic treatment options in resource-limited environments.

“Students readily sought additional time on breaks and before class to learn whole blood transfusion, walking blood bank and additional practice on skills,” Bedard said.

El Salvador’s country profile mirrors many of Washington’s challenges, specifically with military support for natural disasters, such as wildfires, floods, earthquakes, potential volcanic eruptions, public health issues, tsunamis and remote wilderness rescue.

“Future best practice sharing and training could provide us with abundant learning opportunities through instruction and exercises,” Bedard said.

Following the class, Bedard and the other instructors polled members of the class about their experience.

“They were all highly positive and 92 percent of students said they planned on making a change in their job based on what they learned, primarily practicing the medical and triage skills learned as well as teaching others,” Bedard said.

While the class benefited the students, Bedard believes he also benefitted from it.

“This class was taught fully in Spanish with interpreters, and with my poor Spanish,” Bedard said. “This is a good practice to carry forward. It will help me with my Spanish in the future.”

El Salvador and the New Hampshire National Guard have been partners through the National Guard State Partnership Program since 2000, but medical training isn’t one of the focus missions.

“With the Salvadorians building a training site, there could be a pathway to obtain training and share our skillsets with them,” Bedard said. “Not many guardsmen get pulled to do this mission, so being selected was an awarding experience.”