Malians learn life-saving techniques during exercise

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Justin Weaver
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
BAMAKO, Mali (AFPN) --  In a dimly lit, dusty classroom, 32 Malian medics and nurses received their first-ever mass casualty training July 15 in Kati, Mali, 15 kilometers outside the capital city of Bamako.

More than 90 servicemembers deployed to Mali for MEDFLAG 08, a multi-national medical training exercise designed to enhance medical capabilities and readiness for U.S. and African forces.

In a capital city of roughly one million people, only a handful of ambulances are available to care for wounded victims. If those ambulances are unavailable, medics and nurses have to be resourceful to get that patient to the hospital.

"The Malians have never had any type of training to deal with a mass casualty situation," said Staff Sgt. Idellia Beletso, 31st Medical Group aerospace medical technician from Aviano Air Base, Italy. "This training teaches them how to be resourceful with what they have to give a patient the best pre-hospital care they can."

A half dozen Air Force and Navy nurses and technicians taught the students each step of safely dealing with a mass casualty accident.

"We instructed them on how to react from the moment they get the call," Sergeant Beletso said. "Once they arrive on scene, medics assess the situation, ensuring the scene is safe. As soon as the scene is declared safe, they continue their care with triage, assessment and treatment."

Training was divided between classroom instruction and hands on training outside on a cracked, asphalt basketball court.

"This training is very important for us to know," said Sergeant Bourama Samake, a Malian volunteer medic. "It's great to learn how we are able to help other people in this situation. The U.S. always helps other people and I'm very pleased to have these Americans here to help."

Students learned how to safely move patients, proper litter carrying techniques, proper triage procedures, and how to evaluate patients.

Classroom instruction is phase one of three that Malian medics, nurses and doctors will be participating in during the two-week long MEDFLAG. Phase two will assess the Malians on their ability to deal with a mass casualty accident.

"Seeing the look on their faces as we teach them these life-saving techniques makes this all worthwhile," Sergeant Beletso said. "It's great to know that the knowledge I have can be used to teach others how to save someone else's life."

According to exercise officials, the MEDFLAG 08 medical team will provide more than $100,000 worth of medical supplies to the Mali population during this exercise.

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