University Medical Center and Nellis go hand-in-hand in training pararescuemen Published April 2, 2007 By Anne Butler Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- This year, the Las Vegas University Medical Center Trauma Center and the Nellis 58th Rescue Squadron located at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., teamed up to train Nellis' combat pararescue specialists under the title of "UMC Trauma Rotation." Every week, since early January 2007, at least two Nellis pararescuemen work side-by-side with nurses and doctors at the UMC Trauma Center, the only Level 1 trauma center in Las Vegas, to gain live experience before deploying overseas. Staff Sgt. Scott Piper, coordinator with the 58th RQS, works closely with the pararescuemen in training, the registered nurses and physicians in downtown metropolitan Las Vegas. "These are real-life scenarios," said Sergeant Piper. "The experience is priceless." According to Sergeant. Piper, the pararescuemen and he are at the UMC center from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day in order to be available for the widest array of trauma patients. Sergeant Piper added that the types of injuries coming in depend on what is happening in the city at the time, and largely on the time of day. He said the number of in-coming patients picks up in the evenings. "The environment UMC provides can't be found anywhere else," he said. "We can't provide that kind of training on base in simulations." The types of wounds the pararescuemen are exposed to at the trauma center are very similar to the types of injuries they will be dealing with overseas. Senior Airman Charles Bezak, who is presently training at the center and is due for deployment sometime near the end of May, said he has seen a wide array of injuries which will be very similar to those found in combat situations. "In the past week, I've seen minor car accidents, burns, multi-gun-shot wounds and stabbings." He added that he expects to be exposed to these types of injuries when he goes overseas. According to Staff Sgt. Lopaka Mounts, who has been with the 58th RQS for nearly three years and has been overseas and back, the training at UMC has been "wonderful exposure" for the pararescuemen. He said the only disparity is in the fact that the UMC Trauma Center cannot provide the kind of atmosphere being deployed will. For instance, the center has many pieces of equipment and a stable environment that pararescuemen will not have access to in combat situations. "Most of our work is accomplished in airplanes or helicopters. It's a louder environment. Communication with patients is different," he said. "That's the nature of the beast in combat," he said, adding that the only way pararescuemen can be ready for that is to go through the training that can be found here.
