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Expeditionary
Medical Facility Portsmouth
Commander's comments (29 Apr 2004).
Train as you fight. This has been a time-honored principle of all combat troops. It applies to medical as well. Last week we held our first Mass Casualty Drill. Late in the afternoon, without warning, we instituted an all hands recall and muster to see how long it would take us to gather the entire staff and begin movement to the hospital as a response to a Mass Casualty.
I am happy to report that we had the first bus ready to go in 30 minutes and were able to locate almost all of the staff. Not bad for the middle of the day and without warning. In the out brief I told the staff that this was exactly what the real thing would be like, except that it would probably occur at 3 AM. We decided to modify our process somewhat, and planned to re drill in a short period of time. Little did we know how short that time would be.
Three days later, at midnight the call arrived to expect casualties from theater, one critical and a number of others with wounds from an attack on an oil refinery in Iraq. Multiple helos were expected. The Mass Casualty was called; people were rousted from sound sleep by phone call, knocks on doors and whatever other means was necessary. All responded rapidly, at first thinking that this was another drill, but rapidly realizing that this was the real thing.
The busses were loaded with the first surgical teams and in short time were off to the hospital. The hospital crew was already mobilizing their in house trauma teams. Adrenalin pumped as the entire EMF Portsmouth team flexed and mounted our response. For many this was their first encounter with combat casualties. It was made even more difficult when we found out that they were Sailors and Coasties, some from the Norfolk area.
The care provided by all was compassionate and technically outstanding. A few tears were shed when one of the patients lost his battle and succumbed to his wounds. It was a long night for all, but we know we did our job well.
I know I speak for all when I say how proud we all are to be here taking care of the brave war fighters. We also know that this will not be the last mass casualty during our time here. So, we will once again revise the process, and plan to drill it again. Hopefully before the next response.
From the First and Finest Deployed, One Team One Fight.
M. Snyder, Commander
