Life-saving skills 101

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Harry Brexel
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  More than 250 classes are taught each year at Little Rock AFB to educate Airmen on a multitude of life-saving techniques. Airmen from a variety of career fields receive life support training methods weekly. Active-duty, reservists and guardsmen must take Self-Aid and Buddy Care training every two years or prior to a deployment. SABC training consists of an online computer-based training course and a hands-on skill verification. There are more than 100 registered SABC instructors on base. SABC training topics include anatomy and physiology, universal precautions for communicable diseases, airway management, recognition and control of bleeding, shock management, dressings, bandaging, fractures, splinting, victim assessment, triage, and patient transportation/litter movement. However, the 19th Medical Group education and training element also instructs classes on other medical readiness skills, including advanced cardiovascular life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The basic life support classes are not only useful in a combat environment - knowing how to help a wounded person until medical help arrives, can save their life. In April, a team of 19th Airlift Wing loadmasters used SABC training to bring an injured motorcyclist back to consciousness.