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SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia – Medical
professionals embarked aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital
ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) conducted a subject matter expert exchange
(SMEE) with Cambodian navy service members at the Ream Naval
Training Center, as part of Pacific Partnership 2010’s visit to
Sihanoukville.
For three days, military and non-governmental organization (NGO)
volunteers teamed with more than 60 Cambodian naval paramedic
students to discuss ideas, medical practices, and to strengthen the
partnership between the U.S. and Cambodian navies. Upon completion
of the SMEE, students received a certificate recognizing their newly
acquired skills.
“The purpose of the SMEE was to share information and build a
partnership with our host nation,” said Cmdr. Laurie Gentene, Mercy
directorate for administration staff, education, and training. “We
collaborated on training techniques to familiarize the students with
basic paramedic skills. We also conducted ‘skills stations’ for
hands-on training.”
Training consisted of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), care for
the caregiver, basic concepts in trauma care, primary and secondary
assessment, airway management, extremity injuries, shock and
hemorrhage, chest trauma and abdominal trauma.
Of all the skills to be familiar with, Gentene said basic life
support was the most important subject.
“Basic life support was the most critical aspect of our training as
it saves lives,” said Gentene. “The student paramedics who received
training will be responsible for the health care of naval personnel
and their families, so life-saving skills shared during the SMEE can
be used in all areas.”
NGO and partner nation volunteers were on hand, working with U.S.
servicemembers to instruct SMEE participants and share their
knowledge.
“Sharing knowledge, adapting and determining how to improve medical
practices really appealed to me when presented with the opportunity
to participate in this SMEE,” said Margaret Holt, a Project HOPE
volunteer registered nurse. “Working together with Mercy
servicemembers, partner, and host nations is a wonderful
experience.”
For 12 days service members from Mercy, Sailors and embarked medical
personnel from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense force amphibious
assault ship JDS Kunisaki (LST 4003), joined with partner nations,
non-governmental organizations, and other U.S. government
organizations to take part in medical, dental, veterinary, and
engineering humanitarian and civic action programs in the provinces
of Kampong Cham, Kampong Spue, Kampot, Kandal, Ratanakiri, Sihanouk
and Takeo.
Pacific Partnership 2010 enabled host and partner nations to learn
more than just the best medical practices during SMEEs.
“I was amazed at the questions they asked and their knowledge base.
They were so appreciative and asked us to come back anytime,” said
Gentene. “We were all moved by their eagerness to learn,
hospitality, and graciousness.” |
