Army Medics always ready at Camp Torkham

AFGHANISTAN

08.25.2007

Story by Pfc. Daniel Rangel 

22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

by Army Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP TORKHAM, Afghanistan – Three mini-van passengers traveling from Kabul to Peshawar, Pakistan, were injured in a four-vehicle accident on Aug. 21, near Torkham Gate, Nangahar province.

Waqas Hayat, a garment worker from Peshawar working in Kabul, suffered serious injuries to his head while two other passengers suffered minor injuries during the accident. All three men were initially treated for their injuries at Camp Torkham.

Hayat, who is a former English student of the American Institute of Language in Peshawar, was able to communicate with Army Pfc. Sarah Becker, a medic with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Special Troops Battalion who treated his injuries.

"I was the worst student in my [English] class," Hayat said modestly after being complimented on his English.

"I'm learning your language; you're learning mine," Becker said.

Becker, who hails from Greenwhich, Ohio, and has only been in the Army for 17 months, performed like a seasoned veteran as she communicated with and treated her patient.

"I took a deep breath," Becker said. "Then I started with his head and moved down to his feet to look for any major bleeding. After my initial assessment, I checked for less severe injuries."

Becker kept her Army training in mind as she worked and credited her training as the source of her professionalism.

"I just did my job," Becker said.

Another passenger suffered multiple lacerations to his head, said Spc. John Cordova, a medic with the 66th Military Police Company stationed out of Fort Lewis, Wash.

"He was lucky. It could have been worse," Cordova, a San Diego native, said .

The last of the third passengers suffered only minor jaw and ankle injuries. All of the passengers walked away from the scene.

The passenger van was traveling at a high speed toward the Pakistan border at Torkham Gate and would not slow down after repeated requests from the passengers, according to Hayat.

• Date Taken: 08.25.2007
• Date Posted: 08.27.2007 13:56
• Story ID: 12000
• Location: AF