Bagram Air Field Mass Casualty Simulation

This post is not for the faint of heart   

 The base photographer posted better pictures of the mass casualty exercise we did the other day and I though I would post some because it gives you a good idea of what our world is like here.  It is not nearly this crazy on a daily basis but it is what we are trained to do and on a smaller scale we see this type of thing a lot.  All of the actors went to our conference room to get their makeup done.  Most things are pretty realistic in their appearance.

The old severed arm gag, it'll get you every time!

Looks like a zombie apocalypse doesn't it.  Some patients actually walked themselves to the emergency room while others were transported by helicopter or ambulance or whatever vehicle was close. 

Once in the emergency room each patient was evaluated and the extent of their injuries assessed.

When indicated we would run them to the OR for emergency surgery.

Here I am, a man on a mission.

The trauma room is buzzing with activity and people everywhere.

As I mentioned in my earlier email, they did the thing up right, helicopters and all.

Some patients really got in to character.

Others, not so much.

A burnt airway is an anesthesia providers worst nightmare.  I had to get this guy 'intubated' quickly.

Doubling up in the OR.

In these types of situations you do what needs to be done to save lives.  Things like changing into scrubs and wearing masks sometimes have to take a back seat.

It is not abnormal to see shrapnel wounds just like this.

The guy with the carotid artery injury in the truck looks calm as a cucumber.

Helicopters can bring you lots of patients at once so it can get pretty hairy fast.

I just thought this was a cool picture.

Warrior's Way.  Injured soldiers come through here on the way into the hospital.  There is a huge flag on the ceiling so they can see it as they are laying on the stretcher.

Often as anesthesia providers we are standing in the background until there is a need for an airway expert.  Here I am trying to look busy and failing miserably.  

At the end of it all you have to keep track of who you saw and where they ended up so that you know how your resources are being used.  This was a very good simulation and a pretty good experience.