IAmA US Army medic deployed to Kuwait, Ask Me Anything

kwmedic · 3 months

Yep. Enlist in a branch only if you truely want to enlist in that branch.

What I mean is, follow your heart...not some benefit.

kwmedic · 3 months

I think the only people that I've met that are douchebags are the crazy absolutely nutty drivers that I sometimes see. Maybe you can answer questions for me?

I haven't found the statistics, but how many people die in auto wrecks each year over here?

Is it true that the kuwaiti paramedics (or maybe in other countries) wait 5 minutes after showing up on scene to a car accident before beginning treatment? I heard (probably just a urban legend) that they do this because if God is willing that they die in that 5 minutes than so be it.

Is it true that the power grid in Kuwait is run by diesel generators?

Thanks!

kwmedic · 3 months

Very true about medics being targeted. We don't have anything on us that marks us as a medic, nor do I want to. My buddy flies dustoffs and they get shot at ALL THE TIME with the red crosses on the sides.

If I were them and in combat, I think the last person I'd want to see go down would be the medic. What happens if I'm the next person to get shot? (one reason why I always train my soldiers more than just the basics).

kwmedic · 3 months

Im very confused.

kwmedic · 3 months

Unless you have a reason to be on post, I doubt you would be able to see the show. Sorry, as it sounds nearly impossible.

kwmedic · 3 months

Not even remotely close.

kwmedic · 3 months

Yep. This is the (evil looking) tool we carry though. It goes into the sternum just below the neck.

http://pyng.com.s82735.gridserver.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/K4C7239-Introducer-Cap-Off.jpg

Civi medics typically use the EZ-IO, but they also have a higher rate of patients having their arms/legs.

kwmedic · 3 months

Somewhat frustrating. I'm trained to do crics, deal with amputations and other grotesque injuries, give IV drugs, give fluids by inserting this device called a FAST-1 into the sternum, do advanced airways....but in the civi side I can't even establish an IV line and give saline. What can you do though? Rules are rules.

kwmedic · 3 months

I've heard even most defibs won't let you. Something about some paramedic playing around in the back of his rig and stopping the heart of his coworker. Urban legend? I dunno for sure, I've touched an actual defib once in my life so I may be wrong.

kwmedic · 3 months

There's not a whole lot you can do at your current stage, if you are active it will all depend on where you get sent. I specifically asked when I enlisted (since I'm a part timer) and got what I wanted.

AIT, I'll say it again. Study your ass off, and do PT. There will be plenty of distractions, and that's all they are. It's very easy to fail out of medic school.

kwmedic · 3 months

There's probably some old old army FM that says how to take care of business with 1 square. We have plenty of TP in our latrines here. If I had to go out into the field I'd carry baby wipes and those single wet-nap packets in every pocket possible.

kwmedic · 3 months

Keep up on your PT and learn everything you can at AIT. Everything you learn will help you save someone's life. Not paying attention can mean the difference between your buddy living and your buddy going home in a box. As far as I'm concerned there's NOTHING worse than a crummy medic.

kwmedic · 3 months

We also have post-it notes and pens.

kwmedic · 3 months

Some, it really depends on your home unit though. An infantry unit is going to probably send more guys to ranger school than a transportation unit. A non-AB/AA will not have many opportunities to do that stuff. If you are NG it has to do with the above plus the state budget. PT is really one of the biggest things for going to schools because it costs a lot of money to send someone just to have them fall out because they weren't in shape.

kwmedic · 3 months

Gyms, fast food, MWR (they have TVs, poker nights, movies). Most bases here have some sort of wifi in the bays. We live in PCBs which are rectangle buildings, some have walls that seperate into 3 bunk rooms with wall lockers, some just have wall lockers creating the rooms. Gyms are nice, lots of equipment. There are some "MWR trips" that go on to certain attractions, they are fun and I suggest it. MPs are always dicks ;) just follow the speed limit and you wont have to talk to them. Some units carry their weapons, it all depends on your job here. I think 9 month deployments are starting up, I'm not sure.

kwmedic · 3 months

I haven't worked with any other countries, but I have seen Canadians here and there. I'm still debating on if I want to go back to civilian medicine or not. I have a really strong bond with my soldiers (live/eat/sleep within feet of each other for a year). When they have a problem I get to treat it, and then see how it heals. That is something that you really don't get back home.

kwmedic · 3 months

I had always heard of this but never really seen it. In the summer there's a LOT of cars on the side of the road, 130 degrees in the shade will result in a lot of cars having problems. I haven't seen many expensive cars on the side of the roads for very long. I think it may be more of an urban legend than anything.

kwmedic · 3 months

I absolutely love my job. I'm here to help people in need first and foremost.

kwmedic · 3 months

100s in the middle of the night was better than 30 degrees. I hate the cold with a passion.

It's starting to warm up, I tried taking a cold shower after the gym last night and all I got was lukewarm water. Soon it will be boiling water 24/7 (which is the only thing I hate about the summer)

kwmedic · 3 months

I can agree with that. Like I said, I pucker (for about a second) every time a truck hits a bump too fast causing the container to bounce. When I was on leave I had the same feeling a couple times when I'd hear something similar. I couldn't imagine worrying about IEDs, mortars, rockets and gunfire every moment of my life for a year or two. I can fully understand how people come home so messed up.

kwmedic · 3 months

Never heard that mod, but I like it!

kwmedic · 3 months

Personally, if I had the chance to go away from home for 12 months and come back with say 120,000 in the bank I'd do it. Pay off my house and make the next 30 years of my life that much easier just because I sacraficed 1 year of freedom.

kwmedic · 3 months

I don't have the slightest clue. You can talk to people and they tell you they are making a small fortune, and the next person might tell you they aren't making jack. (Who knows who is telling the truth or being really modest) I do know that they pay contractors substantially more in actual combat zones like Afghanistan. I will say that the US contractors here seem to be pretty happy.

kwmedic · 3 months

I honestly haven't had to deal with one single heat injury. It gets up to 130 in the shade during the summer months, and at night sometimes it doesn't get below 110. Bottled water is EVERYWHERE around here and everyone is always drinking it. I think the only problem I had was someone drinking 9-10 bottles of water out in the heat, he didn't have any food all morning and his electrolytes started getting low. An easy fix "here, eat/drink this" when caught early.

I live in what's called a PCB. It's a rectangle building with wall lockers and bunk beds.

kwmedic · 3 months

http://www.narescue.com/C-A-T_-_Combat_Application_Tourniquet-CN33B7051138B3.html

kwmedic

TROPHY CASE

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