Hawaii Guard medical team returns, CST stays in American Samoa

Photo By Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke | Tech. Sgt. Lisa Bartolome of the Hawaii Air National Guard's 154th Medical Group shows a young American Samoan boy how to make a paper airplane at the Congressional Christian Church of American Samoa in the Fafatiua village, Oct. 2. The Hawaii Air National Guard provided basic medical care to residents after a tsunami struck the island, Sept. 30. The church, with the help of the government, is serving three meals a day to those that are in need.  

ARLINGTON, VA, UNITED STATES

10.05.2009

Story by Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke 

National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Hawaii National Guard's medical mission wrapped up over the weekend, but 14 personnel with the state's Civil Support Team will remain on American Samoa to conduct joint hazardous material and damage assessment operations, Guard officials reported, Oct. 5.

The CST has teamed up with the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard to form a HAZMAT Task Force. According to reports, thousands of gallons of fuel oil and other hazardous materials were compromised along harbor storage areas on Pago Pago, which presents a serious health hazard to residents.

Much of the debris on the island is soaked with diesel and other hazardous chemicals, which are slowing the debris-clearing operations, Guard officials said.

On their first day on Pago Pago, Oct. 2, the medical team processed 117 patients and treated more than 70 injuries. The Hawaii Guard also convoyed to a local village to support search and rescue operations. They performed more than 700 man-hours to the SAR effort on that first day.

Air Force Capt. Nathaniel Duff, a physician assistant with the 154th Wing of the Hawaii Air National Guard based at Hickam Air Force Base, is a member of the medical team embedded with the CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package that was on the first C-17 Globemaster III sent to American Samoa Sept. 30.

Below is a second dispatch from Duff that was sent over the weekend:

"Today [Oct. 3] we pushed about 20 minutes northeast beyond Pago Pago to a small village named Faga'itua. 'Synched-up' with two Navy corpsmen from the USS Ingraham, a frigate docked in Pago Pago harbor, as we passed through.

"Pago Pago is the capital city of American Samoa and appeared to have firmly shifted into recovery mode. The Starkist tuna factory in the bay appeared half functional, although the dead fish smell was horrible, the port facilities were a mess and there were still several boats in the city streets.

"We arrived in Faga'itua by 9:30 a.m., and there were already about 40 villagers waiting for us. By 10 a.m., our entire medical footprint was unpacked from the CERFP trailer and deployed in the open-air village church. This provided us with a fully functional, four-bed triage and first-aid station with a limited urgent care medical formulary.

"Our overall set-up was modeled after an EMEDS emergency-room tent wing: 1st tier — admin tracking patient flow and entry-control point; 2nd tier — small holding area for vitals, finger-stick glucose check and initial history; 3rd tier — for our nursing and ENT [Otolaryngology Clinic] staff performing basic physical exams, EKG, etc.; and 4th tier — myself and the Navy corpsmen floating between the four beds dealing with more emergent issues and performing medical procedures.

"We held an impromptu spiritual moment in prayer with the villagers presided by the church pastor. The villagers unexpectedly began singing a beautiful and emotional Christian hymn that left a good portion of us in tears. It was incredibly moving and inspirational for us to begin our work.

"From that moment, our team was in nonstop motion until sunset. I'm pretty tired ... but at last count I believe we treated approximately 165 patients in about seven hours. Capt. [Jason] Iyomasa and Gloria even had a chance to lead an 'away team' to a local village to provide bedside care to a homebound elderly lady.

"We deployed four of our medics to support the CERFP search and extraction team in western American Samoa, who were still tasked with locating missing children.

"Even though conditions have been very hazardous, only one of our team sustained a minor puncture wound injury to his foot.

"With FEMA, CST, Coast Guard and Public Health service on the ground and fully operational, it appears that our first-response mission is rapidly coming to an end.

"Leadership has informed us to initiate cleaning/inventory, packing and palletizing our gear with a possible departure date in the near future."

• Date Taken: 10.05.2009
• Date Posted: 10.05.2009 11:26
• Story ID: 39681
• Location: ARLINGTON, VA, US