For 10 days, rescuers from the Medical Support Group (GZM), together with pilots from the Independent Air Group (SGP), practised evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield using a Casevac helicopter. “One of the most important elements of the training was descending on a so-called thick rope and an alpine rope, with medical equipment and gear. A situation may arise in which the helicopter cannot land. In that case, the rope becomes the only way to reach the casualty quickly,” explains senior warrant officer Paweł Jankowski, commander of the Medical Evacuation Group and, at the same time, a senior paramedic.
It was he and his men who took part in the training with the pilots. “We also practised bringing stretchers with the wounded aboard the helicopter, as well as evacuating casualties using a Petzl triangle and a hoist,” adds Warrant Officer Jankowski, who is serving in Afghanistan for the second time. During his previous mission, he took part in several rescue operations and, as he emphasises, Casevac is essential in Afghan conditions. “A wheeled medical vehicle has limited mobility in the mountains, and when it comes to saving a human life, every second counts. Moreover, unlike a standard, unarmed medical helicopter, Casevac will fly even when there is contact with the enemy at the site and the landing zone is unsafe,” the warrant officer explains.
The intensive training concluded with practical exercises conducted in the mountains, several kilometres from the Polish base in Ghazni. The exercise scenario was as follows: American soldiers fell into an ambush and came under heavy fire. Several of them were seriously wounded and required specialist medical assistance. Because of the difficult terrain, the only way to evacuate the casualties quickly and efficiently was by Casevac, which reached the scene after just a few minutes. The helicopter hovered over the surrounded group of soldiers. Polish paramedics, led by senior warrant officer Paweł Jankowski, descended using ropes. One of the wounded men was hoisted aboard and then transported to the base, where he was quickly placed in the care of military doctors. Meanwhile, medical assistance was provided to the other casualties. The helicopter appeared at the designated location again and soon returned to Ghazni with the wounded.
“Training is one thing, but it was only today that the adrenaline really started flowing, because we were practising in real conditions, in actual mountains. Everything went quickly and smoothly, exactly as we had planned. We are certainly well prepared for similar tasks,” said Tomasz Sanak, a paramedic from Warrant Officer Jankowski’s group, after the operation.
All the training participants performed their tasks excellently. We can only wish them that they will need to use the skills they have acquired solely during exercises.
Soldiers of the 23rd Silesian Artillery Brigade are also stationed at the Ghazni base (Afghanistan). The Bolesławiec artillerymen form part of the Fire Support Group of the sixth rotation of the Polish Task Forces. You can read more about this HERE.
(information provided by Capt. Michał Romańczuk/ii)