Photo By Capt. Jose Lopez Jr | Spc Jorge A. Arcineigas, a medic with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 841st...... read more read more
NOVO SELO, Bulgaria -The 841st Engineer Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve and 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, medical personnel sustain life saving skills, July 23, 2016, during Operation Resolute Castle. Operation Resolute Castle is a United States Army Europe led military construction operation that includes constructing roadways and infrastructure improvements. These efforts span Eastern Europe taking place in Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia and Hungary.
During Operation Resolute Castle the construction teams improve tank maneuver lanes to increase the capacity and capability of training areas; as well as improve the longevity of roads that lead into the construction sites at the Novo Selo training area. While construction is the main focus, there are other mission essential support personnel that use extended combat training to increase their proficiency and skill craft. Each construction site at NSTA has a medic, referred to in the Army as a “68W,” in order to provide immediate care should the need arise.
Whenever a unit goes overseas the option to dial 911 no longer exists. Units rely on assigned and attached medical personnel to provide critical care in the first crucial moments after an injury occurs. The medical soldiers assigned to the units during Operation Resolute Castle are constantly monitoring their fellow soldiers from sunrise to sundown and are available 24 hours a day. They are first responders for all types of medical situations, from a case of dehydration to a catastrophic vehicle accident.
In order to maintain proficiency and exercise standard operating procedures the medical teams recently conducted a simulated casualty evacuation drill, which included medics from the 841st Eng. Bn., and the 194th Eng. Bde. Both units mutually support each other in times of medical emergencies. This drill specifically focused on how to assess, prepare and transport a solider with a cervical-spine injury, an injury that requires stabilization of the soldier in order to avoid further injury.
Cpl. Alexandra Jordan, 766th Engineer Company (Horizontal), 841st Eng. Bn., and Spc. Jorge A. Arcineigas, a medic with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 841st Eng. Bn., were the responding medics. Jordan inspected the casualty, played by senior 841st medic Sgt. Tyler Paxton Davis, to check for injuries and assess the situation.
Spc. Arcineigas took control of the radio relaying pertinent information back to the operations center and requesting a transport vehicle. Without any prior warning, Pfc. Steven Armes and Spc. Michael Santiago of the 268th Military Police Company, 194th Eng. Bde., received a call over the radio that there was a medical emergency that required transport. Arriving quickly, they immediately integrated with Jordan and Arcineigas, secured the casualty, and were headed to the Troop Medical Center within minutes.
After arriving at the medical center, they escorted the soldier inside for more advanced treatment. Overseeing the events inside the medical center was Col. Cynthia J. Moriarty of the Tennessee Medical Command, Tennessee Army National Guard.
At the brigade operations center the Battle Captain, Capt. Donald M. Cesarone III, jumped into action by directing the staff to act in accordance with standard operating procedures. The operations center coordinated response efforts and gauged how long the actual response was taking. Once they received the initial report that there was a casualty, Cesarone informed the medical center that they would be receiving an injured soldier and gave details about their condition. This allowed the medical center to be ready with specialized equipment to treat the c-spine injury.
After the drill was complete a quick after action review of events was conducted with all participants.
“It was a fantastic exercise that utilized a realistic and repeatable drill that functioned well,” said Cesarone,” everybody performed extremely well and we learned more of each other’s capabilities and limitations.”
| Date Taken: | 07.23.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.27.2016 07:02 |
| Story ID: | 205179 |
| Location: | NOVO SELO, BG |
| Web Views: | 65 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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