Hood Soldiers provide faces, experience to KISD Career Center students

          Soldiers assigned to 81^st Civil Affairs Battalion, 85^th Civil Affairs brigade, volunteered their skills and faces to Health Science students at the KISD Career Center April 9-10 as they assisted Emergency Medical Technician and Certified Nursing Assistant students to prepare for upcoming practical exams.

             “The Soldiers come in every month or so to instruct on different subjects and provide different viewpoints,” said Becky Hammontree, the career center EMT instructor.  “Today they are bringing the instruction all together.” 

              Knowing how to utilize special equipment is an important aspect of EMT life.  The Soldier medics provided guidance and real-world knowledge as the students practiced removing simulated car crash victims using the Kendricks Extrication Device; a device meant to stabilize the neck and back of patients to prevent further injury.

              As the students worked to communicate with one another while bracing and moving patients, they soon realized the challenges of operating in the small confines of cars.  Specialist Courtney Rutan, a medic with 81^st Civil Affairs Battalion, took notice as she guided the students through the process of extrication using the KED.

            “The military is practiced at removing patients from vehicles because of all the equipment that we wear,” she said.  “The students are realizing that it is difficult to remove large patients from small vehicles.”

            Finagling the patients onto the long board for extrication, the students eventually understood the process after a few repetitions of the car crash scenario accompanied with a little guidance from Rutan and the other medics on hand.

            In addition to EMT training and certification, the career center offers students the opportunity to enter the nursing profession as well.  In a classroom facing the same parking lot that had the simulated car crash, a rambunctious bunch of students adorned in blue scrubs was all abuzz.

            At first glance, the classroom looks like any other; a few biology posters, a CPR mannequin and tables prepped with disposable razors, hot water and warm, moist towels.  While the razors and hot towels may seem out of place, on this day the CNA students are practicing their shaving techniques on actual participants.

            “As long as it helps them learn and grow, I am happy to volunteer,”   said Spc. William McKinstry, a communications specialist assigned to the 81^st CA Battalion, through the warm towel that was placed on his face.

             The classroom soon filled with chatter as the students, some more apprehensive than others, asked questions of the Soldier volunteers as the shaving commenced.  Dynisha Woods, the class instructor and certified nurse, stressed the importance of listening to the patient while performing the procedure.

            “Remember to listen to what the patient is saying.  It’s their face, so it is very important that you pay attention to what they are telling you,” Woods said to the students.

            As with the EMT certification exam, the CNA students also are required to complete a comprehensive practical exam consisting of any task covered in the course curriculum; anything from changing sheets while the patient is in the bed to shaving.  Having live volunteers allows the students a more realistic training environment than mannequins.

            “The Soldiers bring the real life piece that I cannot provide with a mannequin,” said Woods.  “If it was not for this experience, I may not have the ability to provide such a great learning experience for the students.”

            Since the unit activations in 2011, the 85^th Civil Affairs Brigade and 81^st CA Bn have interacted with the KISD Career Center through the Army Adopt a School program.  According to the Fort Hood website, the Adopt a School program was developed in order to nurture the intellectual, emotional, social, and physical growth of children in the greater Fort Hood area, as well as to increase public awareness of the Army’s mission, and to foster good relations.

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Jesus Ballesteros and Tytiana Butler, Senior EMT students, work to extract 1^st Sgt. David Doubek,   Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 81^st Civil Affairs Battalion, during a simulated car crash April 9.  Soldiers assigned to 81^st CA Bn participated in the training by providing instruction using their real-life experience and medic training.  (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 84^th CA Bde Public Affairs)

Emergency Medical Technician students at KISD Career Center work to extract 1^st Sgt. David Doubek, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 81^st CA Bn, from a simulated car crash April 9 at the Career Center.  Specialist Courtney Rutan, a medic assigned to 81^st CA Bn, looks on as she provides instruction to students.  (Photo by Army Staff Sgt Gregory Sanders, 85^th CA Bde Public Affairs)

Specialist Brett Beeson, a medic assigned to 81^st CA Bn, talks KISD Career Center EMT student Dewayne Isom through the extraction procedures during a simulated car crash April 9.  The 81^st CA Bn medics participated in the practical exercise and provided instruction and real-world advice to the students of the Career Center.  (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 85^th CA Bde Public Affairs)

Dynisha Woods looks on as Keva Savage, a senior CNA student, works to shave Spc. William McKinstry, a communications specialist assigned to the 81^st CA Bn, April 10.  Soldiers were invited for shaves to provide the students real patients, as opposed to simulations conducted with mannequins, in preparation for the upcoming state certification exam.  (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Sanders, 85^th CA Bde Public Affairs)

Certified Nursing Assistant students at the KISD Career Center campus work to prep their patients April 10 during a shaving practical exercise.  Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 85^th Civil Affairs Brigade were invited to volunteer in the practical exercise to provide the students the ability to practice on real faces prior to the state certification exam later this year.  (Photo by Army Staff Sgt Gregory Sanders, 85^th CA Bde Public Affairs)