103rd Medical Group takes training to heart

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Joshua Mead
  • 103rd Airlift Wing, Public Affairs
BRADLEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, East Granby, Conn. --  Heart awareness month may be over, but for personnel in the 103rd Medical Group here, the heart has a more permanent awareness.

Military medical providers participated in an advanced cardiac life support training class here March 7, 2010, during the drill weekend. ACLS, as it was called by Lt. Col. Randy Galloway, commander and flight surgeon for the 103rd Medical Group, is meant to re-familiarize medical providers with responding to rhythm disturbances, respiratory failure or compromise and various stroke situations.

They were exposed, or re-tested, on various equipment used to ensure airway management to include endotracheal intubation, LMA [laryngeal mask airway] insertion, as well as vascular access including interosseus access, which is bone drilling for medication administration via the bone marrow, said Galloway.

"In addition to resuscitation, the goal of ACLS is to begin to identify the symptomatic causes of the condition, so that a long term treatment plan can be created," said Senior Master Sgt. Richard Stec, health system specialist, 103rd Medical Group.

The ACLS class included hands-on tutelage and inspection along with written tests and a short academic period. All were taught by retired Lt. Col. Bruce Moore, previous chief nurse for the 104th Medical Group at Barnes Air National Guard base, Mass.

Although administered locally, ACLS is certified through the American Heart Association and is required every two years due to information in the medical career field changing constantly, said Stec.

This training ensures healthcare providers at Bradley can confidently make the right decision in a critical cardiac moment that may occur in the new battlefield environment, said Stec.