27 Sep 13

If you are a Medical Technician or Surgical Technician, you will probably attend C-STARS sometime in your career (hopefully BEFORE you deploy).  I am told that C-STARS training is a requirement every 24 months...HA!  I have been enlisted for 13 years and this is my first chance of attending.  I DO agree that it would be beneficial to attend every 2 years.  I wish that I had the opportunity earlier, because I was exposed to situations that would NEVER present in an outpatient facility (where most OR techs work now a days).  I only hope to be able to apply what I learned, but most of all, to never forget it.

The advice and opinions in this blog, are of course MY opinions of MY experience at C-STARS  Baltimore.  Everyone's training and schedule is different depending on expertise.  I attended as a Facial Trauma Technician or Operating Room Technician.

Congratulations!  You finally have your RIP and plane tickets set up for your adventure in Shock Trauma.  Included in your packet you will have a list of items to bring for field training and so on.

So what should you REALLY bring to C-STARS?

1) Undershirts/bike shorts - For one thing the scrubs are LIGHT BABY PINK.  Therefore, leave you hot pink thong at home (or for after hours).  They encourage members to wear an undershirt/tank top and shorts under the scrubs.  The scrubs are very "see thru" and others will be able to see what you wear. . .or don't wear.  Enough said.

2) Conservative clothing - To include black pants for ambulance runs (med techs only).  Even though it is a civilian hospital, members are still expected to represent the Air Force in a respectable manner.  No offensive t-shirts and no shorts. OR techs are allowed to wear their OR shoes and cloth hats.

3) Old clothing that can be thrown away- There is a field exercise where the students will practice "Care under fire".  If you are a patient during this exercise you will be covered in moulage and will have your clothing cut off of you.  No simulations here, you will end up in your shorts and sports bra.  I am thankful that I gave myself a pedicure the night before.  In fact my right sneaker is still stained red from my femoral bleed.  There will also be a field hospital set up at the end of class.  If you bring uniforms that you plan on disposing of afterwards, KEEP THEM until the 2nd/final event.  I have several friends who were told that they did not need the "old" uniforms after the paintball activity, so they donated their uniforms.  Unfortunately, during the EMEDS type exercise, they got moulage all over their serviceable uniforms.  Even if you are not a patient, you still risk getting your clothing stained from your fake patients.

4) Detergent/Dryer Sheets- If you plan on doing laundry more than twice, I highly suggest that you bring some of your own. The hotel will provide you with 2 sample boxes of powdered Tide and 2 sample boxes of Bounce (FYI,  they also provide additional complimentary boxes from the front desk if you ASK).    There are more individual boxes for purchase in the gift shop, but it's expensive.  Use of the washer/dryers is not free.  It's approximately $1.75 for each and can be paid with credit card or quarters.

5) Government license- There are government vehicles for use and there will be times when the class will have to travel to alternate training facilities.  This is a huge must for medics because you may have to drive to other locations for Medic/ambulance runs.  If you are tasked for this TDY short notice, like so many of us are, you can also accomplish online training that will allow you to legally drive the GOV's.

6) Notebook- There are tests.  If writing notes helps you study then go for it.

7) Bathing suit- Yes, there IS a lap pool at the hotel.

Living Arrangements

The staff at the hotel are absolutely awesome.  The rooms are equipped with a microwave, fridge and hair dryer.  They give out 10 free breakfast vouchers, not because it is coordinated through the cadre, but out of the kindness of their heart.  This breakfast is more than the typical continental breakfast.  It is a buffet serving a nice variety of foods: pancakes, cereal, oatmeal, eggs, bacon, fruit and yummy coffee.    There is always citrus or lavender infused water available in the lobby.  Or if bottled water is preferred, that is given out for free as well.  The gym is decent, not to mention that it is super clean, with fruit, cold water and towels available, 24/7. There is also a sauna and a nice sized pool.

The hotel also initiates (again on their own merit and dime) a social hour where the students can mingle with each other and the staff of C-STARS.  It has free food and an OPEN bar. In addition, they also host a "Manager's Reception" once a week for the guests.  This too includes appetizers and an open bar. They WANT our business, so they go out of their way for us. I give the hotel 3 thumbs up.  It's centrally located, clean, and has decent accommodations.  Way better than other places that I have had to stay for TDY's.

With that said. . .there are some Cons, some of which are out of the hotel's power that may cause a nuisance.  You will more than likely have a room-mate (to include officers).  You MAY also have to listen to sirens at all hours of the night.  I am a light sleeper and this caused a little bit of annoyance to me.  The rooms away from the street were ok, but my room faced the busy street and was right next to one of the busiest fire departments in the US.  Yes, Sirens were my white noise.  Bring ear plugs if this will be a major issue for you.

As with most of the nicer hotels, the gift/coffee shop, restaurant and bar are PRICEY.  I bought a few post cards from the gift shop for $1.25 each, then found the same post cards in a different location sold for a quarter!  Expect markups on convenience items.  To give you an idea, here are some examples that I heard others complain about: $3 per candy bar, $3 for Motrin (4 pills), $10 for a pack of cigarettes and $5 for Chapstick.

The restaurant has "ok" food for when you are too tired to walk to a restaurant. . . but expect to pay a minimum of $10 for a sandwich, $9 for an adult beverage or $3 for a scoop of ice cream.  You can walk across the street and get 3 times as much for $2.

Zeke's Coffee shop has delicious coffee but is priced similar to Starbucks down the street.  Again, you pay for not having to walk around in inner harbor Baltimore.

Cadaver Lab