US soldiers train Kosovo Security Force in MEDEVAC procedures

The four-man crew from Camp Bondsteel landed a UH-60 Blackhawk at the KSF Training and Doctrine base in Ferizaj/Urosevac just as large snowflakes began to fall. As the wheels of the aircraft sank slightly into the damp grass, the pilot and the rest of the crew greeted the group of KSF troops eager to train. Fortunately, the snow didn’t last long, and they jumped right into action.

“I was the crew chief and hoist operator,” said Sgt Michael Cummings, a Blackhawk Helicopter Repairer with Company C, 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, Washington Army National Guard. “I instructed the KSF on how to be next to the helicopter safely, as well as the safety features within the aircraft.”

Training two medical evacuation methods

Cummings and the rest of the crew trained the KSF troops on two primary medical evacuation methods. The first involved using a SKED rescue system to safely transport non-ambulatory patients, also known as a litter carry. As the KSF troops took turns carrying mock patients onto the aircraft in groups of four, Cummings showed them how to move the litter efficiently within the confines of the aircraft. Shortening the carrying handles on the SKED, for example, allowed a little extra space to place the patient in the cabin.

Some key takeaways from the training were establishing common terminology through translators and conducting multiple repetitions so the procedures became second nature to the troops. In the event of an emergency that would require assistance from both KFOR and the KSF, such as a natural disaster, the two organizations will be better prepared to work together to respond quickly and efficiently as a result of the training.

Seeing improvement throughout the day

“Every time we work with the KSF, you can tell they’re very disciplined,” said Sgt Joe Harris, a Combat Medic Specialist with Company C, 1-168th GSAB. “I loved seeing how well they take direction and the improvement throughout the day.”

Harris assisted Cummings with safety and litter carry instruction. He was also in charge of securing KSF troops onto a seated hoist, the second method of evacuation they trained on. Two volunteers sat on the yellow hoist seat and were instructed to hang on to each other. As the Blackhawk hovered overhead, Cummings lowered the cable and Harris secured it to the seat. This method of medical evacuation is helpful when an environment isn’t safe to land in.

As the volunteers were lifted off of the ground, they smiled and gave a thumbs up. “My favorite part is seeing the faces of the KSF members doing their first hoist a hundred feet from the ground to the helicopter,” said Cummings. “The fear and joy mixed together is kind of cool to see.”

In other news, the US Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory and Vita Inclinata recently successfully completed initial prototype flight-testing on Vita’s Load Stability System Litter Attachment.