Photo By Sgt. Dennis Gravelle | An Iraqi patient gets operated on by operating room members from the 47th Combat...... read more read more
Sgt. Dennis Gravelle
138th MPAD
MOSUL, Iraq (April 3, 2006) -- Saving lives is part of the job of the 47th Combat Support Hospital Medical Staff based out of Logistical Staging Area Diamondback, Mosul, Iraq.
Recently, after a suicide bombing at AL Kisik, their medical knowledge and skills were put to the ultimate test.
"We received a call at 11:33am from 1st Armored Division that an improvised explosive device exploded and the CSH would be receiving 15 Iraqi Army cadets that had been wounded with multiple injuries," said Master Sgt. Shawn Romero, tactical operations center, and native of Seattle, Wash.
According to Colorado Springs, Colo. native Col. James Polo, commander, 47th CSH, at 11:45am we called a mass casualty and activated all medical resources, not only the ones at the hospital, but Forward Operating Base Marez, and Courage.
"Over the course of the next 30 to 40 minutes it became apparent that is was going to be a major event," said Polo.
According to Lt. Col. Karen Dunlap, assistant chief nurse, from Fort Lewis, Wash., the wounded started arriving by helicopter and they just kept coming.
"We were told at first we would get 15 individuals, but they just kept coming and we ended up with a total of 33 wounded Iraqi's," said Dunlap.
Dunlap said once off the helicopter, the wounded were triaged by two Army doctors who decided which wounded needed immediate attention. The wounded that needed immediate medical attention were rushed into the trauma door. The ones that could bypass EMT went to the ward or intensive care unit.
According to Dunlap every individual person in this hospital, no matter what unit they worked in, played a very important role in saving lives that day.
"To the casual observer it is sheer chaos, but it was a well organized chaos, there was never a loss of control," said Polo, "everyone did a magnificent job that day and as their commander it was a humbling experience to see everyone work together as a team."
According to Rikkina Pulliam, head nurse from Lexington. Ky. There was a huge communication barrier, but they took care of their injuries and did an excellent job in doing what needed to be done to treat them.
"I have the greatest staff in the hospital, everyone did exactly what was expected, they treated patients, did what they were supposed to do," said Pulliam, 'they did a perfect job and I am very proud of them."
According to Lt. Col. Thomasine Howard, operating room chief nurse, most of the patients operated on had extremity wounds, wounds on their arms, legs, some with really bad facial wounds. Howard is from Montgomery, Ala. and is stationed in Hawaii.
"We operated on patients for about 16 hours," said Howard.
Howard also said that it was one of those days that required lots of teamwork, and that is exactly what we got.
"People worked all day, barely got breaks or meals, and just continued to work with no complaints," said Howard.
"Our job at this hospital is to provide trauma care for Army Soldiers, and Coalition Forces Soldiers, that's our job," said Polo. "The day of the mass casualty my staff went above and beyond what was expected and they performed an outstanding job."
| Date Taken: | 04.04.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 04.04.2006 16:48 |
| Story ID: | 5952 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 275 |
| Downloads: | 93 |
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