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“Our main focus is to provide urgent and non-urgent medical care to the Soldiers that get injured during a jump along with providing sick call to the support staff during Operation Toy Drop XIX,” said Lt. Col. Stephanie L. Kirby, a primary care physician with the 7458th Medical Backfill Battalion. Injuries typically range from cuts and bruises to dehydration and broken ankles.
Any injuries that arise during the entire operation will receive the best medical support military organizations can provide. Medics from multiple commands with vehicles capable of evacuating the injured to the nearest medical treatment facility will be present at all Operation Toy Drop events.
“Safety is a very important part of Operation Toy Drop, paratroopers are jumping out of high performance aircraft and helicopters,” said Master Sgt. Christopher E. Keller, medical section noncommissioned officer in charge with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne).
Not that anyone looks forward to an injury, but when one comes up, the medics are ready to serve. 1st Lt. Kathryn A. Snider and 1st Lt. Kaitlin E. Lamb, clinical nurses with 7458th MBB, splinted a paratrooper’s suspected sprained ankle after a hard landing. “We are able to perform our jobs during this exercise allowing the Soldiers to keep their skills active,” said Lamb.
During the Command Post Operation aspect of OTD, Soldiers have an opportunity to refine their military professions; which adds to the future readiness of the Army Reserve. For many Soldiers, an operation of this size serves as their only real chance at working on their specific individual military skills.
“The exercise lets us all get some real-world activity,” said Kirby. “Some Soldiers don’t necessarily do this in their daily jobs.”
“So, it’s nice when the medics can get in here and really do this. They can get the training and do what they need to do so that they have the abilities to be able to deploy and care for their Soldiers,” Kirby said.
There is also an attention to detail mindset that is required for mission success. When not treating a patient, the medics must constantly sterilize their vehicles and perform Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services (PMCS) to ensure the ambulances and crews will be ready at a moment’s notice. No matter the time or day, or conditions, the Medics must always be ready.
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2016 11:33 |
| Story ID: | 217810 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 79 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Responding with care during Operation Toy Drop XIX, by SSG William Gillespie, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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