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Self aid for buddies who care

  • Published
  • By Airman Jack Sanders
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFNS) --  The drive to work one morning is abruptly interrupted when, suddenly, the car in front of you swerves and wrecks. You pull over and scramble to the car to help as a basic military training flashback comes to mind.  You recall the self aid and buddy care training you received. It's only now that the true understanding and thankfulness of knowing how to properly address the situation is realized.

Self aid and buddy care, or SABC, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, require self-involvement training. This means that individuals should seek training if they feel they don't know or remember how to correctly perform what could be a life saving task.

Some people, like firefighters, lifeguards, security forces, medics, physical training leaders and PT test staff, have a more pressing need for life-saving skills. However, self aid and buddy care is a mandatory skill all military members need to know and is highly suggested for everyone.

"Something as simple as applying pressure to stop bleeding I use every day," said Staff Sgt. Tiffany Rewerts, 3rd Medical Group aerospace medical technician. "[SABC] is something everyone should know."

"The first step to get training on SABC or CPR is at the unit," said Tech. Sgt. Amy Miller, EMT coordinator and 3rd Wing SABC adviser. 

If training isn't available at the unit, Airmen should call the medical group and get scheduled for a class here, she said.

"CPR and SABC is wing-wide, and instructors are in all units to keep members up to date on their training," Sergeant Miller said.

At Elmendorf AFB, there are more than four SABC classes per month and two CPR courses per month. Trainers with the 3rd MDG have two life-like dummies, an adult and infant, for CPR training. 

"The baby wriggles and makes noises too," said Sergeant Miller.

"[SABC] is a requirement, but it also helps in situations like, if someone's doing PT at the gym and they were to have a problem, everyone [in the building] would be able to help them," she said.

CPR isn't mandatory for all military members, but it is highly recommended. 

"I'm an EMT and have done CPR on a live person," said Sergeant Miller. "It's very helpful to know what you're doing."