Photo By Seaman Maria Alvarez | 170928-N-BY095-0113 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (Sept. 28, 2017) Sailors transport a...... read more read more
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5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS – The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) conducted a medical training team (MTT) drill Sept. 28 to assess the crew’s medical response readiness.
The medical team aboard Shoup conducts regular drills designed to test the crew’s ability to respond to an emergency situation anytime, anywhere on the ship.
Every Sailor must be ready to respond to and treat life-threatening injuries such as compound fractures, sucking chest wounds, facial wounds, or electrical shock.
“We usually do a drill once a week with different departments and different divisions, said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Juan Galarza, from Bogota, Colombia, Shoup’s MTT leader. “This week I decided to visit our engineering department in one of the main spaces. Engineering spaces are some of the most difficult places to get into and also some of the most dangerous. They involve transiting multiple ladder wells.”
To make each scenario as realistic as possible, Shoup’s medical training team typically outfits a Sailor with lifelike injuries that are commonly suffered in shipboard environments.
“I had a great time being the casualty,” said Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) James Lamica, from Cummings, Ga. “I went into medical and the medical team dressed me up with all types of wounds.”
After preparing the casualty, Shoup entered into a medical training team environment, which was announced via the ship’s 1MC intercom system.
“Putting the ship into a medical training team environment is a safety precaution and an alert to all the Sailors aboard the ship,” said Galarza. “We want to present an element of surprise, but we also want our Sailors to be safe in the process. After the word was passed, my team then headed down to the main space where our casualty was placed and waited for the watch team to respond to the casualty.”
Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Sheila Garrido, from Stockton, Calif., and Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Electrical) Rhanelle Ellington, from Dallas, responded to the emergency.
“We arrived on scene and at first we were not sure what was going on,” said Garrido. “After retrieving the first aid kit, I assessed Lamica and found that he possibly fell and had an injury to the head and left leg.”
After assessing the patient, responders provided first aid care and called for stretcher bearers to assist in the treatment and transport of the casualty to medical.
“We came ready to assist and move the casualty out of the space,” said Culinary Specialist Seaman Jacob Lloyd, from Wilmington, N.C., a stretcher bearer aboard Shoup. “We received feedback from the first responders and made our own assessments as well. After positioning the casualty in an ideal position we placed him on the stretcher and determined the best route to ensure we transported him safely to medical.”
Galarza and the medical training team supervised and made assessments during the drill.
“I give both the first responders and stretcher bearers feedback on their performance,” said Galarza. “In the event of a real casualty, we’ll be in the main battle dressing station treating any wounded personnel that arrive.”
Galarza said he and his team will continue to train each and every Sailor aboard Shoup to ensure they are ready to render aid to their fellow Shipmates at a moment’s notice.
Shoup is deployed in the 5th Fleet area of operations with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group conducting maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners, preserving freedom of navigation and maintaining the free flow of commerce.
| Date Taken: | 09.28.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 10.03.2017 14:27 |
| Story ID: | 250418 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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