JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
It’s a
late-night drive on a slick-wet road, when suddenly a car runs a red light. The
brakes lock and tires squeal across the blacktop — the world has turned upside
down.
When
that phone call comes in, all the training hours kick into gear.
“When I
get a phone call, that’s someone’s terrible day,” said U.S. Air Force Staff
Sgt. Christian Roebbelen, 633rd Medical Operations Squadron paramedic. “Theoretically
when people are here [at the Langley emergency room] they’re having the worst
day of their life.”
Despite
the fact that the emergency medical services team works inside the hospital
helping with the patient care, their primary duty section lies just out the emergency
room doors with the ambulances.
It’s in
the back of these ambulances that lives are saved by their training and
expertise.
Paramedics are certified in advanced
cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support, basic life support and
national registry certification. They are also the ones authorized to provide
anesthetics to patients while on scene and in certain cases can call doctors at
the 633rd Medical Group for guidance.
Both
EMTs and paramedics are trained in blood loss control, fracture management,
advanced airway management techniques and burn management. In the case of
spinal injury, they are trained in the immobilization and transport of
patients.
“When we
arrive on scene, the patient is our primary focus,” said U.S. Air Force Senior
Airman Michael Bray, 633rd MDOS emergency medical technician. “Every time we go
out, we make sure to give good patient care continuously.”
According
to Roebellen, whether in the emergency department or the family health clinic,
the 633rd MDG is always looking to improve patients’ experience.
“Our
goal is to make someone’s worst day a little bit better, even if we can’t make
them smile” said Roebellen. “Our purpose is to save lives.”