Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Army medics face life and death choices everyday on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. On Thursday, dozens of them got a taste of what that will be like, thanks to a special training program in Chicago.

As CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports, the goal of the program was to test their skills before they're needed.

From the outside, it looked like just another building at Rush University Medical Center, but to a group of Army National Guard medics inside, it was the battlefield, and there were lives to be saved.

Under the recorded drone of helicopters and gunfire, the medics worked through a simulated mass casualty event with victims around every turn.

The Department of Defense-funded program offered medics a taste of what they can expect on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Those who have been deployed, like Staff Sergeant Cody Westphall, said the training is invaluable.

"When the time does come, when these guys get deployed they'll kind of know the stressful situation that they're going to be in, so it won't phase them as much as when they actually get there," said Westphall, a Minnesota National Guard medic.

Illinois Army National Guard Col. Thomas Weiss called the training program "phenomenal," adding it "really gives the soldiers a great deal of confidence in their own ability, their equipment, their buddies, and to help them do a much better job."

A unique part of the training program were the "virtual patients," which could simulate every possible human medical emergency.

Each virtual patient was controlled by a computer that would monitor the mannequins' responses to treatment. They also created further medical conditions requiring emergency attention.

In addition to treating the "virtual patients" for life-threatening injuries, the medics were tested on their assessment skills of "live" patients, played by volunteers.

The medics said the interaction allowed them to hone their skills.

"When we're dealing with live patients, they're telling us that they're hurt, or this hurts or that hurts, and you can visually look in their eyes and see if the pupils are dilated or if they're breathing or not breathing," said Staff Sergeant Howard Young, an Illinois National Guard soldier.

The entire time the medics worked on the patients, a team of doctors from Rush was standing by to help. It was comforting to Pfc. Megan White, who is waiting to be deployed.

"If you're doing something wrong, they'll let you know how to do it and how to fix it and correct it, that way you can get it right," said the Illinois National Guard soldier. "It actually helps out a lot, knowing that I can actually care for my patients, and know that they'll be okay in my hands."

Those involved with the program said that kind of confidence can't be taught in a classroom. On the battlefield, it could mean the difference between life and death.

"They won't be as intimidated, and they'll know they'll have some confidence about being able to tackle those situations," said Dr. Sobia Ansari, one of the instructors.

Weiss added, "It conditions them, teaches them that hey, they can do it. They can move through this and be successful and save our soldiers' lives."

Since the program began in May 2007, about 250 soldiers have gone through the training. Rush University Medical Center was hoping to get more funding from the Department of Defense so they can expand the program to include even more soldiers.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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