Combat Lifesaver Course

For the last three days I've been in a classroom learning how to be a Combat Lifesaver. It's more advanced than the basic first aid the Army teaches us. A Combat Lifesaver is like a first responder on the battlefield, we will attempt to give life and limb saving procedures until the casualty can be evacuated and seen by a medical professional. I took this course in 1995 when I was stationed at Fort Bragg, and it has advanced and adapted to injuries seen in this war. One thing that hasn't changed is the I.V. portion. Just like the course 10 years ago and the first aid class a couple of months ago at Fort Stewart, I had to stick a fellow soldier with an I.V. needle and be stuck. It's hard enough getting stuck in the arm by a trained and experienced medic, imagine how it feels to be stuck by someone holding a needle for the first time.

I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving tomorrow, it will be my first day off in a long time. I think I'm going to sleep and eat and then sleep again. Maybe I'll watch a little football too.