Petawawa hosts brand new medical course

3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR), supports a medical evacuation course for new capability.

You may have noticed an increase in helicopter activity around the Ottawa River back in October. The buzz you heard was the Canadian Medical Emergency Response Team (CMERT). This October marked the first iteration of training for this new, scalable, aeromedical transport capability that can provide advanced pre-hospital care. The CMERT is a joint capability including personnel and equipment from 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (450 THS), Canadian Forces Health Services Group (CF HSG), and 3 RCR. Each team consists of one physician, a registered nurse, two combat medics, and four force protection infantry soldiers. 3 RCR infantry soldiers not only provided security and protection for the team and aircraft but were used extensively to assist with casualty care.

The content throughout the course covered advanced patient care, ground security tactics, movement of patients, and more. 3 RCR soldiers, while working with the medical professionals, learned additional critical medical skills. Together, the CMERT forms a cohesive element that provides a flexible, quick reaction, medical evacuation team that can be ready to support those in need, even in isolated parts of the world.

The combined efforts of CMERT will provide the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with a robust aeromedical evacuation platform with onboard critical patient care and self-contained security, which will allow for faster evacuations over longer distances. The result is better emergency casualty care for CAF personnel, allied nations personnel, and civilians alike. Without a doubt CMERT is a formidable capability and 3 RCR is proud to be a part of it.

Click on an image to enlarge. Photos by Private Sarah Morley