Tripler Soldiers bring realism to RIMPAC

TRIPLER ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, HI, UNITED STATES

06.25.2014

Courtesy Story

Navy Public Affairs Support Element Detachment Hawaii

HONOLULU - Stepping into a temporarily re-purposed conference room at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) June 25 you might think you've accidentally stumbled into the special effects department of a horror movie set.

Tripler Soldiers lean over slabs of mock injuries, meticulously adding more and more gruesome details to their creations as they perfect the art of moulage in support of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014, the world's largest international maritime exercise.

"I can't believe I'm getting paid to do this! It's the last thing I ever expected to do when I signed up for the Army," said Pfc. Sungjae Park, Behavior Health Specialist at TAMC, as he adds the finishing touches to his handiwork that showcases an injury that would be anyone's worst day, a wound impaled with metal.

"It's important that our work looks as real as possible. There will be medical staff at RIMPAC accessing what kind of treatments they should apply based on our work so we want to do our best," said Park.

Dr. Ken Kelly, Emergency Department Chief at Tripler Army Medical Center says virtual or simulation training has become an essential part of military and civilian training and is intended to immerse an individual in a life like situation where critical thinking and decision making are required. "Simulation that recreates the stress and pressures of the real life experience has the most value. Moulage lends realism to patient care in the simulated combat or disaster environment," Kelly said.

"This one needs more bone," says Pfc. Mike Calhoun, TAMC Health Care Specialist, as he adds more simulated blood, broken bones and bruises to his work. "Every injury that we do is based off an exercise patient role player card that describes whatever the injury is supposed to be," he says.

"It's actually pretty fun," Calhoun says as he adjusts the piece of wood protruding from his favorite injury so far. "It's not like any other assigned detail that you would do in the Army."

The simulated injuries will be applied to actors, along with stage make-up, who will endure a mock hurricane scenario during the mass casualty medical response portion of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise at Ford Island, June 11.

Tripler is slated to provide moulage services for all Hawaii-area healthcare organizations, military and civilian, participating in RIMPAC.

RIMPAC will give government and private sector agencies statewide a chance to enhance disaster preparedness and provide a forum to enable agencies to identify areas for performance improvement.

• Date Taken: 06.25.2014
• Date Posted: 07.01.2014 01:39
• Story ID: 134922
• Location: TRIPLER ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, HI, US