Well it's only a drill however rest assured for the rest of my life
I'll remember how it feels to stand if the face of disaster.
The Chapman class had executed a Mass Casualty Drill so that we can
get a feel for the kind of stress we would feel during such an
incident. Before I tell you what happened. A Mass
Casualty is an accident where there is a stress on EMS Services.
It can be anywhere from 2 to however many victims involved.
Well we came into class sure enough with a heavy weight on our
shoulders knowing that this event would be stressful. However
never did I imagine how Mark Chapman was going to show us this.
 I sit with my team "Squad 6" Yours truly
as Captain, Pam, Michael,
and Steven. We sit outside in the ambulance waiting to hear
some kind of call come in. Now it's stressful enough knowing
that we would be called out to be tested on some type of Mass
incident. Well I hear tone over the radio over a simple
"Unconscious person" I hear one of our units roll out.
As we all look at each other over the stretcher I get this
nervousness that forces me to sing. (It makes me relax) I try
to reassure my guys that we can do this. We've been trained
for this. Try to relax. Meanwhile in my heart I'm
trembling. Well over the radio starts a chatter that
there is more than just "One Unconscious Person" I hear a slight
heat in the other squads voice as I hear request for back up.
Suddenly I hear over the radio that there is a "Industrial Accident"
We all look at each other again
over the stretcher. "Hmm. Ok We can do this." The
ambulance I sat in suddenly lit up as the unit next to us fired up
and headed out in response. Two units become four, four become
6. Suddenly we are called upon. " Squad 6 Respond to Glouster County College Room 406, 407, For an industrial accident,
Police and Fire Department secure the scene is safe. Proceed."
I hear my driver pick up the radio and key in our response. My
unit get it together as I strap my portable to my shoulder. I
place my gloves over my trembling fingers knowing that we were going
into a major cluster fuck. All of our remaining units were
called into action.
Upon arrival of the scene
there were nothing but lights, sirens, and people scattering about.
The Scene of a major explosion had occurred. People were
coming out of the building with Bandages over their faces where the
dark charred scar of injury showed it's ugly face. I jumped
out with my crew and we were approached by EMS Command. " I
need you guys to get to room 407, with equipment we have a count of
17 people in there with Major burns, laceration, and already we were
running out of supplies!" I saw a look in Jims face that was
determination powered by fear. I ran in with my crew of 4.
Upon getting to the room I can see that a Triage Area was already in
place. Inside were masses of injured I could see Cravats,
Bandages and more stretchers and backboards that I cared to count.
I felt my heart quicken as I realized. This explosion had more
victims waiting to be helped. I ran into room 407 as one other
person ran out. I could see he was rattled by what ever was in
that room. As I ran in to see if I could help with my crew.
I felt my determination crash head on with fear. Inside was a
total of 5 people on the floor, Burns and blood all over their
faces. Now while this was a staging it was all done so it
seemed real. I barely recognized one of my fellow students
reached up with a bloody hand and called my name "Miguel! Help
me!" I felt myself lock for a second as I recognized Michelle.
I took a quick count of the people inside and checked them to make
sure they were all breathing. I barked for my crew when I
turned around they had been snatched up by the chaos around them.
I felt a dread hit me when I saw one door that was semi closed.
I told Michelle to hang on as I checked for more people.
I reached over my right
shoulder and keyed up EMS Command and just as I was about to inform
them of the 5 victims I had just found my vocal chords came short as
inside one of the smaller rooms were 5 other bodies. On the
floor was one woman, a bloody mess who reached up to me with a
bloody stump and cries to me. " My arm! Where is my
Arm!" Surrounded by cries of people screaming for me to help them I
felt my legs lock in fear. I was terribly overwhelmed. I felt
myself stop breathing as I took it all in. All I could do was
see the woman's amputated arm, next to her laid another man with his
left leg missing. Two other laid up against the wall with
their face blackened with burns. I had just stepped into where
the blast occurred.
Definitely overwhelmed I forced
myself to breath. As I step in I could sense someone was behind me.
It was Pam. the look in her eyes were probably the only thing
that I could understand at the moment. She asked me what we
had. A major cluster fuck is what I had in mind, however
something inside of me starting barking orders, and Pam and Steven
came right behind her instantly started taking over the scene.
I grabbed hold of the woman's arm and she helped me with stop and
secure her bloody stump. Behind me Steve had started on that
mans leg. I looked up and for a moment felt like a sense that
I had to keep going. I radioed EMS Command and informed them
of what I found, whilst I was informing of them more people
came in and swarmed the place with bags and supplies. I could
see small groups of rescuers coming together as a teams. Along
side of me where groups and people I was not accustom to working
with side by side with me working with the same fever I had. I
felt my fear subside as I worked along side of them placing our
amputees on a backboard and moving them out to Triage. I could
see as we carried people out of the room mass swarms of people.
In and out, with bodies and bandages. The walking dead were
being guided out as we were rushing to move our man out. I arrived
in Triage and placed my patient in priority so he may be treated by
our makeshift Emergency room.
Back and forth I ran with
strange EMS personnel carrying people and treating people in the
halls as I found them. Moving them out of harms way.
Michelle had been moved away when I returned. The room I found
was down to 4 people, I helped secure the woman with the
amputated arm, to a long board. I took the right side position
while I heard Michael say we don't have any more stretchers, Just
carry her to triage!" I took a flank and along side my newly
acquired squad mates I hurried another patient to Triage. So
far I had handled 3 patients, barely. Upon getting to triage I
was asked to help getting the patients ready for transport. I
looked around the room and sure enough my worst scenario faced me.
A Child. Now even though this was all a simulation it was
plenty real enough to stress me. I saw that kid and it shook
me. I walked over to her and I assisted in boarding her as she
was complaining of neck and back pain. I filled out her triage
tag while the others secured her. She calmed down as I kept
her busy with answering questions. Vicky was quite the trooper
while we got her secure and loaded to a
Millville Rescue
Ambulance. Upon loading her another came onboard as one of the
living dead. ( These are people that are injured but can walk
on their own to help. ) As we loaded up I did manage to wind
up with Michael and Pam still with me thru the whole thing.
Somewhere along the line I lost Steve.
He turned up later on.
However it was during the trip to the hospital that I started to
calm down a bit. Our wounded person lightened up and the
simulation was almost over. One thing to keep in mind that our
patients were previous EMT Students. So they were watching to
see how we performed. Of course they being experienced they
could really play the part good. Upon getting to the hospital
the staff arrived right behind our rig and took information down
about our little Victoria. Finally she had enough and I was
given the green light to let the little 9 year old loose.
She breathed a sigh of relief as I removed her collar. It was
over.
All together we had a
total of 32 patients from an industrial explosion. 2 Dead.
I personally remember tagging the head. ( I didn't know what else to
do with it.) All together it was a very humbling experience to
stand in the face of certain disaster. While I type this I can
only remember my fear and determination through this whole ordeal.
I see the events in New York in a whole new light. What I went
through was nothing to what they went through. My respect,
will forever lie with my crewmates and all those who answer the call
off "911 What is your emergency?"
Top
|
