Photo By Sgt. Cassandra Groce | The 67th Foward Surgical Team from Giebelstadt, Germany, currently supporting the 3rd...... read more read more
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PFC Cassandra Groce 133rd MPAD
BAYJI, Iraq (December 2, 2005)" Forward Operating Base Summerall took steps to ensure critical combat care with the new surgical team assigned to the base, increasing capabilities of the aid station.
"We take care of the door kickers," said 1st Lt. Gloria Hernandez, executive officer for the 67th Forward Surgical Team from Giebelstadt, Germany, currently supporting the Rakkasans of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team
When deploying to an area the FST can be fully operational to start taking casualties within two hours. With an additional three hours, they'll have their living quarters set up too.
The team is responsible for the immediate stabilization of a person before they are sent to a hospital. They have no real holding capabilities, but when a Soldier might typically wait an hour for advanced trauma care, they can now get care almost immediately.
When a Soldier is first received to the aid station, he is assessed in the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) room. In this room the Soldier's vitals are taken and more advanced aid is given, such as an IV. From there the patient is moved to a surgical room.
The FST can handle 30 surgical patients in a 72-hour time frame.
After surgery the patient has post-anesthesiology recovery and can then be flown to a permanent hospital.
The teams worked different scenarios to enhance the realism of the training. During these scenarios, the electricity is shut off to prepare the team for how to handle such an emergency. The team also uses the training to find any glitches in their system and anticipate potential problems that might arise in an actual event.
For instance, something as simple as dangling light cords become a distraction, or if tent flaps are not pulled back properly, patients can get tangled in them during the transfers from room to room.
Overall, recent training was successful. "We stuck to our roles and did what needed to be done quickly and efficiently," said Capt. David Vollbrecht, Officer in Charge of the ATLS.
Such efficiency has seen the unit deployed ten times in the last four years to various locations around the world including: Turkey, Africa, Macedonia, Kosovo and Republic of Georgia " to name a few.
Besides experience through deployments, the team has also had two soldiers selected as Non-Commissioned Officer of the year. Staff Sgt. James Rehl was the US Army Europe's 2004 NCO of the Year and Staff Sgt. Jesse Kane was the 30th Medical Brigade NCO of the year.
Not only is the FST team highly qualified to save Soldiers" lives, they are also ready to do it. "We can do something to save their life before they get to the hospital," said Maj. Laura Favand, chief nurse.
| Date Taken: | 12.09.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 12.09.2005 13:31 |
| Story ID: | 4022 |
| Location: | BAYJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 625 |
| Downloads: | 45 |
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