Golden hour critical in saving lives

Do unto others quickly. That's the golden rule for the sailors and soldiers providing medical care in Fallujah. They know that the hour between when a Marine is critically injured and when he is treated is a precious one. It is during this "golden hour" that the wounded have the best chances of survival if treated by a trauma team.

"If we don't (quickly) get (the wounded) to these trauma centers, then the odds of them surviving drastically decreases," said Chief Petty Officer Frank Dominguez, the senior medical department representative for Battalion Aid Station, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. "In this battle our Marines, sailors and soldiers have been accomplishing this over and over again."

The wounded get front door service from the battlefield to the trauma center.

"We have a unique ambulance service," said Dominguez. "Each company is equipped with two corpsmen inside a high-back armored vehicle, these are the ambulances. They bring the injured from the front line right to our front doorstep."

On average the BAS treats about 45 patients a day, including urgent to semi-urgent patients. They do this with a staff of one medical officer, one senior medical department representative, one independent duty corpsman, six corpsmen and seven Army medics.

Although their primary mission is caring for Marines, sailors and soldiers, they also take care of Iraqi nationals, if they have life, limb or eyesight emergencies, said Dominguez. Cases more routine in nature are directed to Iraqi medical facilities.

The staff knows that enemy wounded must also be treated.

"Basically, you just have to think of every patient as a person," said Navy Lt. Robert J. Sobehart, the medical officer. "It is difficult when individuals come in from just attempting to kill your brothers--with the smell of gun powder all over their hands--but our job is to treat everyone the same. That's what we do here."

Although the BAS is equipped to treat all cases that may arise, the more seriously injured are redirected to other capable Facilities after initial treatment at the BAS.

"When we receive them, we treat them and fly them to either Camp Fallujah, Camp Taccqatum or Germany for (further) treatment," said Chief Petty Officer Richard R. Tomlinson, an independent duty corpsman with 3/1. The BAS has no plans to leave Fallujah as long as they are needed.

"We will be open as long as we have Marines in Fallujah doing security or combat breaching operations," said Tomlinson. "We can easily pack up at any time and be closer or farther away from the fight within 15 minutes."

This ability to go where they are most needed is working. Warfare in urban areas can result in casualty rates of 80 percent, said Tomlinson. But that's not the case here and the BAS is doing its part to increase survival rates.

"We're within the golden hour almost every time, even though we're approximately an hour and a half away from any level-two medical facility," said Tomlinson.

Marines apply immediate aid in the thick of battle, corpsmen stabilize their condition for transport to the BAS, then the BAS staff gets to work--all within that golden hour. "Almost everyone treated here; we get them out and they're still alive, and it's all based on this system."

The golden hour rule has become the deciding factor between a life saved and a life lost, said Dominguez. "The golden rule is working well for us."

Sgt. Robert E. Jones Sr.

FALLUJAH, Iraq

COPYRIGHT 2004 U.S. Marine Corp.
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