Photo By Sgt. George Welcome | The Litter team helps to load a wounded Soldier into an ambulance during the MASCAL...... read more read more
By Spc. George Welcome
2nd BCT PAO, 101st Airborne Div.
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - An old military adage says, "If it ain't raining, we ain't training."
In the spirit of being able to adapt to any and all circumstances, medics from Company C, 526th Forward Support Battalion, conducted a mass-casualty evacuation exercise on a cold, rainy afternoon at Camp Striker Feb. 3.
The exercise simulated what would happen if Soldiers were injured during an enemy attack on the base camp. The event was all-encompassing, involving Soldiers from the brigade operations center to the Camp Striker Fire Department.
"At (1:50 p.m.), the Tactical Operations Center was notified that a rocket struck a tent, burning it and damaging the one next to it," said Maj. Craig Bukowski, medical operations officer, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, in describing the scenario. "This all takes place in the vicinity of PAD three, and there are casualties."
Although it appeared somewhat chaotic at first, the participants said that the event unfolded just the way it would have in an actual emergency.
Soldiers from the Quick Reaction Team arrived on the scene at the same time the Striker-Baghdad International Airport Fire Department arrived. The QRT searched for casualties, assessed their conditions and helped to evacuate them, then called for medical help. Simultaneously, the firefighters quelled the tent fires and assisted with the evacuation effort.
After all the victims had been moved to safety, the medics of Company C arrived to provide treatment to the wounded troops. It is the effort of the first responder that often determines whether or not the injured person will survive, medics said.
"You do what you can do on the ground," said Maj. Kevin King, Strike Brigade surgeon. "There's nothing an aid station can do to stabilize a patient that can't be done by a medic on the ground."
The MASCAL exercise stressed the importance of treating patients immediately, then getting them ready to be airlifted to the nearest combat support hospital.
"Use everything you have been taught with the tourniquets, the airway maneuvers, the Hespan (fluid drip) and get them on a helicopter," King told the medics. "Flight time from our loading zone to the combat support hospital is about six minutes."
After the litter team had loaded and secured the last casualty into the ambulance, its rear doors were shut and the ambulance was given a tap, the sign it could depart for the troop medical clinic. Fortunately, all of the mock casualties were saved thanks to the prompt treatment given to them by medics.
Exercise participants said they felt it was a realistic scenario which allowed them to build on the skills that both medical and rescue personnel have already developed. It was also a good indicator on how well all the various rescue entities will work together if a similar situation arises, said Bukowski.
| Date Taken: | 02.22.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 02.22.2006 09:40 |
| Story ID: | 5459 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 217 |
| Downloads: | 103 |
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