2010 Paulatim Magazine - RAAMC Association

anaesthetics and advanced airway management. This enables the MT to
deliver a high standard of care to the less severely injured patients and
liaise with the aircrew and ground forces. An alternate version of this
Team is using a Critical Care or Intensive Care trained nurse and a MT.
Their experience in nursing critically ill patients would allow nurses to
make decisions based on a patient’s potential to survive the flight and
thoroughly brief the receiving doctors to allow the surgeons to prepare
for the patients arrival.
In terms of an allocation for the Order of Battle, the Battle Group
would see an Aviation Troop consisting of four Blackhawk helicopters,
their aircrew and appropriate ground crew and the Evacuation
capability consisting of four MRTs overseen by the Regimental Medical
Officer attached to the Battle Group Surgical capability. The use of four
Blackhawk helicopters and four MRTs allows for adequate crew rest
which would decreasing the number of fatigue based errors, allow
for helicopter maintenance and factor in the possibility of a aircraft
being grounded. The helicopters would be setup to act as air
ambulances prepared ready to go on the receipt of a nine line CASEVAC
request.
In conclusion, the method of employing casualty evacuation in the AO
used by the Australian Army requires a review to fall into line with the
changes to the Infantry Platoon model and the restructure of medical
services. This will ensure that the burden of the injured soldier is
removed from their Platoon and they are delivered to the appropriate
level of medical care. The model proposed above limits the impact on
Australia’s small resource pool and ensures the delivery of high quality
care to soldiers from point of injury to definitive care.
References
By: CPL Jonathan Stevens, Advanced Medical Technician
Corcoran, M. (Presenter). (2010, February 16). The golden hour. In Foreign Correspondent
[Television Program] [Transcript]. Canberra, Australia: ABC TV. Retrieved from
http:/ /www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2010/s2820327.htm
Davis, P., Rickards, A., & Ollerton, J. (2007). Determining the composition and benefit of the prehospital
medical response team in the conflict setting. Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps,
153(4), 296-273. Retrieved from http:/ /www.ramcjournal.com/2007/dec07/davis.pdf
Hartenstein, I. (2008). Medical evacuation in Afghanistan: Lessons identified! Lessons learned?.
Retrieved from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Research and Technology Organisation
website: http:/ /ftp.rta.nato.int/public/ /PubFullText/RTO/MP/RTO-MP-HFM-157/ / /MP-HFM-157-
05.doc
C.F. MARKS MEDAL
This award is designed as a memorial to the late COL C.F. Marks, OBE, ED, who had
a long and distinguished career in the RAAMC. Charles Ferdinand Marks was
appointed into the AAMC on 12 June 1937. After serving in the Middle East and
New Guinea during the Second World War he was transferred to the Reserve of
Officers on 21 December 1944. Subsequently in the CMF he was appointed CO of
7 Fd Amb and 11 Fd Amb between 1948 and 1954. On 29 March 1954 he was
appointed Deputy Director of Medical Services, HQ, Northern Command and
promoted Colonel on 14 May 1955. He was awarded the ED in 1956 and OBE in
1962. The award is funded from a donation given generously by his widow Mrs J.
Marks. The conditions of the selection for this award are: The award is to be given
for an outstanding individual effort where the RAAMC has benefited in some way.
The emphasis is to he on contribution to the Corps and this may be in the medical,
administrative, technical or logistic areas and may be in either non medical or
medical units. Continuous long service without any major outstanding effort is
insufficient for the purpose as the medallion is not a long service award.
The recipient's service should he generally of a high standard. Enthusiasm,
selflessness and dedication to the Corps are necessary contributory factors – The
recipient must be a serving non-commissioned member of the RAAMC (ARA or
GRes).
The award consists of a medallion and a certificate and includes a cash prize of
$500.00. Nominations for the award should be forwarded on an AB777 through the
chain of command to reach SO2 CORPS, HLTH SVCS, Milpo BANDIANA, VIC,
3693 no later than 31 July each year.
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