MEDIC! MEDIC!
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Christine Mahoney, JO2(SW) US NAVY
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 NAVAL BASE
FREDERIKSHAVN, DENMARK – As three injured submarine sailors cried out for help as they lay in the ocean, a small boat speeded over and pulled the sailors onboard. The boat speeded away back to its ship, bringing the sailors to a waiting medical team. That was the training scenario on the naval base harbor as day two of Sorbet Royal 2002 went into full swing.
The medical teams established a mock triage center on a pier next to the harbor. The teams were divided in half, with one group as medics and the other as injured personnel. The groups switched out later on in the day.
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 According to Danish Navy Sergeant Chief Petty Officer Per
Haagerup, the triage scenario was a simulation of a submarine accident with a nearby ship providing medical assistance. “On a ship, depending on the amount of casualties, you could have injured sailors in medical, the mess decks may have to be used as a triage center, you have to be prepared for any submarine rescue scenarios,” said
Haagerup. “The medical teams who organized and implemented today’s drills wanted to provide the doctors and medical assistants with as realistic a triage center as possible. That is the best way everyone will benefit from this training.”
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 Once the injured were brought to the center, two doctors conducted an initial medical assessment to check for preliminary wounds and decided which course of treatment should be used. Once the evaluation was complete, the degree/type of treatment needed was printed on a piece of tape, which is then placed on the forehead of the injured person. Then that individual was moved onto the next phase of treatment.
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| Recording and tracking of a patient’s injury and treatment data was a major function of the triage center. Indian Navy Submarine Medical Officer Surgeon Commander Anil Ahuja took charge of that responsibility. “As the initial consultation is taking place, the doctor whom performs the evaluation provides me with the preliminary information,” said
Ahuja. “The information I am looking for concerns the types and severity of the injuries, which triage station the patient is moved to and what medical treatment is the patient receiving. We need the information so we can keep track of the person’s medical treatment and progress.”
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 Polish Navy and ORP LECH Medical Officer Cezary Adamiec assisted in providing initial medical treatment. He said he found this type of medical triage drill is extremely productive. “I am learning new techniques and information on how to handle this type of medical emergency,” said
Adamiec. “I think this is a great experience, working in this environment with so many people from different nations working together.”
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| Following the first cycle of medical attention, the injured were moved into the tertiary treatment area. In this area, up to four people could receive oxygen and were prepared for a decompression chamber. The patient received further medical care while in the decompression chamber. “Not only will the doctors continue to take care of any injuries, such as decompression sickness. Heat can also be provided to the injured,” said
Haagerup. “The waters in this region are very cold and anyone who is in the water for any amount of time can suffer from hypothermia. Therefore, that is why we use the heat, to warm the body.”
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| SORBET ROYAL 2002 is the fifth NATO sponsored live Submarine Search and Rescue Exercise. There are nine NATO nations and one Partnership for Peace nation participating in the exercise. There are seven non-NATO nations and one Partnership for Peace nation serving as observers during SR02The exercise is conducted every three to four years and takes place from May 20 – 31. |
