Rescue squadron implements successful paramedic ride along program

by Master Sgt. Luke Johnson
943rd Rescue Group Public Affairs

6/11/2014 - DAVIS MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE Ariz. -- Pararescuemen are among the most highly trained emergency trauma specialist in the U.S. Armed Forces and in order to maintain the highest level of medical trauma readiness PJ's continually work on perfecting their emergency medical skills.

The 304th Rescue Squadron, based at the Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon, successfully implemented the first ever ride  along program with a civilian emergency response agency where pararescuemen and medical technicians assigned to the unit perform hands emergency medical care alongside civilian emergency medical technicians.

The program, which started in the fall of 2013, allows PJ's and other medically trained Airmen in the unit go on ride alongs with the Skamania County Emergency Medical Services Department in Washington State, which is one of the largest counties in the state.

"We had to overcome a lot of legal hurdles to get an agency to accept us under their umbrella to let us provide hands on patient care," said Master Sgt. Bobbi Kennedy, 304th RQS independent duty medical technician. "We (304th RQS) and Skamania County went through a lengthy legal process, and the ride along program was approved where our guys are covered under their liability."

For Staff Sgt. Matthew Trevino a PJ assigned to the 304th RQS and EMT for the city fire department, the ride along program provides him with exceptional patient care opportunities, and it's also a chance to receive in-depth trauma care training.

"I schedule my training around their monthly training classes where they review the cases from the previous month," said Trevino. "They review patent files and discuss how they can improve their patient care process, and this class provides a lot of in-depth patient care information and treatments provided."

Trevino feels this program provides him some of the most valuable medical training he has received because it is true patients care, not just working with simulations.

"Through this ride a long program, we are able to provide  hands on patient care, and we (PJ's) need to become comfortable in providing trauma care," said Trevino.

The higher comfort level of providing trauma care translates in to lives saved and also increased operating capabilities for the PJ teams.

"Once you have a higher level of patient care, you can focus on the surrounding environment because you have a better understanding of what is going on with the patient" said Trevino. "You can monitor the safety of a situation, and the overall view of the situation surrounding you; this is very important in a combat environment."

Due to the size Skamania County, an area approximately 1,672 square miles, patient transport times can be lengthy, not only must EMT's provide immediate trauma care they must also be very proficient in providing appropriate patient support care while in transport to the hospital.

"Response times and patient transport times can be up to two hours as compared to five to ten-minuets in my civilian job as an EMT," said Trevino. "We've got to closely monitor patient care during the long transport times."

Communicating their patient's condition to the receiving hospital is a critical skill that is very useful when PJ is in a forward deployed environment and due to longer transport times in Skamania County they can perfect their communication skills to the receiving medical teams.

"We've got to make sure the doctors receiving the patient have an understanding of the medical condition, and we provide them with the accurate information either over the phone or once we get to the hospital," said Trevino.

Trevino would like to see other PJ units across the country establish the same ride along program that the 304th RQS and the Skamania County EMS have created.

"We've got a very good model for other EMS agencies to follow," he said. "I also hope that other rescue units and rural EMS services will be able to provide the same program that we have and accept Air Force PJ's under their legal umbrella."

Kennedy is working on implementing the program into the 304th RQS medical upgrade training program and also including the entire 920th Rescue Wing and 943rd Rescue Group into the program.

"They always reach out to provide us additional advanced EMT training, and the best part is there is no cost to the unit for this invaluable training," said Kennedy.