GA ADT Vet Team Trains Combat Medics in Emergency First Aid for Military Working Dogs in Sangin after RIP

Who: GA Agribusiness Development Team Veterinary TeamWhat: GA ADT Conducts Military Working Dog (MWD) emergency first aid procedures with combat corpsmen, medical officer, and handlers at Sangin.When: 10 OCT 2013Where: COP Sabit Qadam, Helmand ProvinceWhy: To prepare combat corpsmen and handlers to provide immediate first aid and stabilization to MWDs in a combat aid station in the absence of local veterinary service.

END STATE/EFFECTS:The GA ADT Veterinary Team conducted training on MWD casualty evaluation, proper IV catheter placement and fluid treatment, wound care and bandaging, as well as emergency tracheostomy.

SIGNIFICANCE:The GA ADT Veterinary Team utilized time during an Agriculture training mission in Sangin to provide supplemental instruction to newly assigned combat corpsmen and Marine MWD handlers. Handler’s are trained as first line responders for MWD’s and corpsmen can aid initiating lifesaving procedures prior to evacuation. The Vet Team also covered additional training to allow them to handle common MWD injuries and problems en route to the dedicated Veterinary Service assets at Camp Leatherneck. Providing hip pocket refresher training on the battlefield provides corpsmen additional instruction and opportunities to ask questions specific to emergency care of injured MWD’s. Trained medics, corpsmen, and MWD handlers capable of caring for minor problems can allow the MWD and handler to continue their designated mission without leaving the battlefield.

PATH FORWARD:The ADT will continue to take advantage of all opportunities to provide additional training in the area of veterinary skills as they present themselves. The Veterinary Treatment Facility at Camp Leatherneck is the primary care provider and conducts refresher training in the AO.

UNCLASSIFIED / FOUO

MAJ Johnson, GA ADT Veterinarian, discusses combat emergency assessment of

MWD

SPC Medina, GA ADT Veterinary Technician, and Corpsman assist with

bandage application on MWD Sgt SuzyUNCLASSIFIED / FOUO