Shock trauma platoon awarded for success in Helmand

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Robert Storm | Lt. Sarah Zieminski, 27, critical care nurse, from Middlefield, Conn. and Lt. Scott LaPanne, 42, critical care nurse, from Knoxville, Tenn., discuss procedures while conducting an inspection of Shock Trauma Platoon facilities. The STP is a small, mobile medical unit designed to support Marine Corps combat operations. These specialized medical units are capable of providing emergency lifesaving medical care in the severe environments of a combat zone.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, AFGHANISTAN

03.01.2012

Story by Staff Sgt. Robert Storm 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan - The Marines and sailors of the Shock Trauma platoon, 2nd Medical Battalion, received a certificate of commendation aboard Forward Operating Base Delaram II for their work during August 2011 to March 2012.

During their time in Helmand Province, the STP provided essential medical care throughout their area of coverage. They treated more than 500 patients consisting of local civilians, ANA forces, and International Security Assistance Forces to include American, Georgian, Jordanian and Italian armed forces.

“It’s been an interesting deployment. We’ve seen a lot of severe trauma, mostly with the ANA (Afghan National Army),” Navy Capt. David Keblish said, 46, officer in charge STP, from Annapolis, Md. “We definitely saw the ghastly, gory side of war, but we were well supported, had good quality gear and an absolute crackerjack team. They performed top notch, I couldn’t be more proud.”

The STP also treated 150 patients that were severe category-A trauma that required intensive medical interventions and surgeries. They had a 99 percent survival rate. As a role II facility they supported 80 medical evacuation missions to higher Role III facilities.

“Role three facilities have everything, they can give MRI’s and CT scans, they have more beds and personnel. We have surgeons, so we get the bleeding stopped and get the patient stable. Then, when they can survive the trip, we get them to a Role III hospital,” Petty Officer 1st Class James Mayluk said, 33, lead petty officer, from Cleveland, Ohio. “We can do a lot of things here; X-ray’s, lab work and other things but we’re more like an emergency room. We travel with them, make sure they’re safe and then pass them on to higher level facilities.”

The STP is a small, mobile medical unit designed to support Marine Corps combat operations. These specialized medical units are capable of providing emergency lifesaving medical care in the severe environments of a combat zone.

“It was a different experience treating Afghan locals. Their medicine is way different, not as updated,” Petty Officer 1st Class Shane Holt said, 38, STP camp commandant, from Devine, Texas. “They use a lot of home remedies. We’d see burn victims come in with flour or whatever else they could throw on it thinking it would help.”

When a Marine is severely wounded on the battlefield, it is critical for the injured person to receive emergency trauma care within the first hour; this is known as “the golden hour.” The golden hour represents the time from the point of injury to the time the patient receives treatment. Unfortunately, sometimes casualties can occur in inaccessible locations where rapid medical care is impossible. The STP has the capability to increase the chance of survival greatly, even when the golden hour is not met.

E-mail Staff Sgt. Robert M. Storm at [e-mail]

Editor’s note: 2nd Medical Battalion is on Forward Operating Base Delaram II which currently houses Regimental Combat Team 6 in 1st Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.

• Date Taken: 03.01.2012
• Date Posted: 03.01.2012 02:27
• Story ID: 84529
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, AF