Photo By Spc. Paul Harris | BAQUBAH, Iraq -- Sgt. Omar Riojas, medic, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy...... read more read more
By Pvt. Paul Harris
3rd HBCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
BAQUBAH, Iraq " To ensure the readiness of the brigade medical staff, a simulated insurgent attack followed, by a mass casualty exercise, was conducted Jan. 18 at Forward Operating Base Warhorse.
A mass casualty exercise is an event in which a large number of casualties pour into a medical facility at a rapid pace.
It was the job of the highly trained medical staff of Company C, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers, to keep a sense of order in what can be a chaotic event.
When the ambulance rolls into the medical compound with casualties, a litter team greets the ambulance to offload the wounded. The triage officers determine what level of care is needed based on the severity of the patient's wounds.
"If there is excessive bleeding or danger of losing life, limb or eyesight, then they go into immediate care first," said Capt. Derek George, physical therapist, 64th BSB. Less severe cases go into the delayed care category and walking wounded or stable cases go into the minimal care category.
In some cases, the 64th BSB medical staff might have to treat an Iraqi citizen or one of the many foreign nationals who work on Forward Operating Base Warhorse.
"Language barriers propose a problem for our medical workers," George said. "To combat this, we have interpreters on staff to help out. If we get a prisoner of war in (the troop medical clinic), they have to be screened first at the (front) gate and then they are screened again at the aid station for potential security risks, making sure that their weapons are gone or they are not booby-trapped before receiving aid."
From the triage area, a patient moves inside the medical clinic for treatment, where a patient can expect to encounter someone like Pfc. Megan Berry, medic, 64th BSB. It is her job to prep the patient before a doctor arrives.
"When the patient comes in, I make sure their vital signs are recorded and hook up an (Intravenous Therapy bag) if needed," Berry said. "I also make sure the patient's airway is open, cut their clothes off to check for any other wounds that they might not be complaining of, and get them ready for the doctors to see them."
After being treated, a patient can recuperate at the medical clinic. If further medical attention is needed, they can be airlifted to Logistical Support Area Anaconda.
It is very important for the 64th BSB medical staff to work like a well-oiled machine-- having everyone know their responsibilities provides the best care for patients.
To get real-world feedback, the battalion decided to have one of its own be a casualty during the exercise.
After a simulated attack of indirect fire, Pfc. Heidi Freeman, medic, 64th BSB, simulated a casualty with a lower leg fracture. She was then picked up by the Perimeter Reaction Force, who took her to the troop medical clinic.
Freeman went through triage quickly, where it was determined she was in urgent critical condition and she needed to be medically evacuated by a helicopter. She was then taken to the helipad, where the staff simulated loading Freeman onto a Blackhawk Helicopter.
Though it was only a simulation, being a casualty can be an intimidating experience--even for the most seasoned medics.
"I was scared because you are lying on your back (on the litter) thinking that this could be me in real life and how traumatic that would be," Freeman said. "But the medical staff was very professional and talked to me through every procedure making, sure to explain what task they performed on me."
With the deployment of 3rd HBCT in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom just getting under way, Berry remains upbeat about the road ahead.
"With the doctors and equipment we have, we are very prepared to handle emergencies like a mass casualty with very little difficulty," she said.
| Date Taken: | 02.06.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 02.06.2006 12:54 |
| Story ID: | 5334 |
| Location: | BAQUBAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 180 |
| Downloads: | 42 |
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