USS Barry Corpsmen Teach Crew How to Save Lives

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Sunderman, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class, guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) medical team provided cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training to crew members March 9.

Training included situational awareness, victim rapid evaluation, automated external defibrillator techniques, first aid and basic CPR.

The training was designed to train Sailors on what to do and how to react in a situation where someone might need immediate medical attention.

"Barry's medical team aims to be at the forefront of the new training initiative, which states all watch standers must be basic CPR qualified," said Chief Hospital Corpsman Michael Young. "This initiative is an attempt to foresee new requirements from Afloat Training Group for all top-side rovers and watch standers to be basic CPR qualified."

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), CPR is a combination of rescue breathing and chest compressions delivered to a victim in cardiac arrest. CPR can support a small amount of blood flow to the heart and brain to "buy time" until normal heart function is restored.

The CPR program aboard Berry is sponsored by the AHA, which provides Barry's medical team with materials they need to train and inform Sailors.

"There are new changes to the AHA curriculum that Barry has implemented into the shipwide course," said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Michael Brandy. "It's our job to make sure that Sailors are properly trained, informed and aware of new changes in the procedure."

Current Navy standards require only certain ratings, such as electricians and medical staff, to be CPR qualified. Electricians have to qualify annually, but all other ratings will remain certified for two years.

"CPR is an important skill for all of our Sailors to learn," said Ensign Luke Freeman, Barry's assistant training officer. "Not only can it be used in an emergency aboard the ship, but our Sailors can use it to help civilians ashore as well."

AHA developed the first CPR guidelines in 1966. During the past 50 years the fundamentals of early recognition and activation, early CPR, early defibrillation and early access to emergency medical care have saved hundreds of thousands of lives around the world.

Barry is on a scheduled deployment conducting maritime security operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility.