FORT HOOD, Texas -- Soldiers from 9th Hospital Center, 1st Medical Brigade provided lifesaving medical intervention to casualties involved in an accident on July 10.
9th Hospital Center Soldiers were conducting convoy operations along one of the post's isolated training areas when they noticed a dark, brooding cloud of towering smoke from a rolled over truck.
As the convoy got closer to the smoke, they noticed an accident that involved two vehicles and one casualty on the road.
"When we got closer, we realized the extent of the accident," said Cpt. Jillian Guy, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 11th Field Hospital. "Everyone quickly realized that we were the first responders. Our main priority was to move the first casualty away from the burning vehicle and save his life."
The convoy made a hasty stop and the Soldiers quickly approached the first casualty bystanders had removed from the burning vehicle.
"My thought running up to the scene was to get him away from the burning vehicle as soon as possible and to control the bleeding," said Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Newell, acting first sergeant for 11th Field Hospital. "I was also thinking that we didn't know if he had injured his spine, so I knew we needed to use cervical spine precautions as soon as we got to him before we could move him."
Medics took the lead relocating the casualty further from the burning vehicle using cervical spine precautions. Shortly afterwards, the vehicle's fuel compartment exploded.
Once the casualties were removed from immediate danger, medics began providing aid to the more severely injured casualty.
"Soldiers swiftly delivered care to the first casualty applying a tourniquet for open bilateral femur fractures," Guy said. "I saw the second casualty walking around disoriented so I grabbed two medics to help treat him."
Medics applied tourniquets to the first casualty proficiently to control the bleeding and provided airway management and trauma care. The second casualty suffered from a suspected traumatic brain injury and facial trauma. The medics treated and stabilized both casualties until the emergency medical services arrived.
Even after the EMS arrived, Newell, Sgt. Eric Johnston, combat medic team leader and Sgt. Mariela Jones, platoon sergeant, remained and continued to provide help.
"We were starting fluids, bandaging the wounds and placing the casualty on a spin board," Newell said. "Once he was on a spin board, Sergeant Jones moved to provide airway until he was placed on a helicopter."
The intervention did not stop until the casualties were evacuated. The first casualty was air evacuated by Baylor Scott & White, and the second was taken to Carl R. Darnell Army Medical Center by the EMS.
"The medics from three different companies quickly became one cohesive unit," Guy said. "I have never been more proud of everyone on scene. Even the non-medical MOS Soldiers did an amazing job with crowd control, driving vehicles safely to the scene and comforting others who had seen the trauma."
When Soldiers came across a situation that needed immediate aid, they reacted expeditiously and saved the lives of those casualties. Military police and EMS commended the Soldiers for their quick reaction, professionalism and proficient medical skill set.
9th Hospital Center Soldiers are prepared to provide expert medical care at moment's notice and they will continue to train in order to stay ready.
"Tragedy can happen at any time and you need to be prepared," Johnson said. "It was an eye opening experience that nobody was expecting."
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