Veterans Blog - 2010
Douglas Karr, Petty Officer Second Class, United States Navy Veteran
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Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard to hire close to 200 new workers in 2010
The Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Hawaii has announced that is has 175 open positions ranging from apprentice to engineer, and plans to fill all positions by the end of the year. The shipyard already employs close to 5,000 people.
A job fair is scheduled for March 27th from 8 until noon at the Honolulu Community College on Dillingham Boulevard. All interested individuals are encouraged to attend and learn more about the job openings. At least 100 apprentices are needed by January of 2011, and there are close to 80 other positions, such as engineer assistant, that the shipyard is hoping to fill.
An apprenticeship at the shipyard is structured like a four-year work-study program that allows individuals to be paid while earning their degree in applied science from Honolulu Community College and, at the same time, learn a specific trade at the shipyard. Average starting pay for an apprentice is close to twenty dollars, and graduates of the four-year program have the ability to earn an additional nine dollars per hour.
In addition to apprenticeships, the shipyard is looking for engineers and related workers, and is offering a starting salary of between $45,000 and $68,000 annually depending on qualifications. Engineers, naval architects, welders, electricians, mechanical experts, and nuclear engineers are welcome to apply; there are also openings for physical science techs, equipment specialists, and engineering technicians. These are full-time positions, but two-year internships are also offered, with the opportunity to be hired full-time when the internship period ends.
The Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard has a rich history in Hawaii, with historians stating that the shipyard dates back to the 1800s. Back then, Pearl Harbor was called “Wai-Momi,” or “Water of the Pearl.” In 1891, President Harrison suggested that Congress consider developing Pearl Harbor and building a naval station because the country had such an interest in exploring the Pacific islands. In 1908, Congress designated $3 million to go towards the creation and development of Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Territory of Hawaii, and since then, the Naval Shipyard has housed naval vessels and seen two unbelievable wars. The United States fleet was reconstructed here in 1941 after Pearl Harbor was attacked and WWII began.
Like all of the American shipyards, the Pearl Harbor Naval Yard was unfortunately a site of asbestos exposure for thousands of civilian workers and members of the military. Asbestos was used extensively on naval ships [most specifically as insulation around steam and other pipes] until the institution of asbestos-usage laws in the 1980s. An unknown number of men and women were exposed while working at U.S. shipyards, and many developed mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer, as a result. In fact, about 30% of all mesothelioma sufferers are also Navy veterans.
Mesothelioma is a disease that does not receive the same amount of media attention as other forms of cancer, but it is a very real threat to veterans, former shipyard workers, sailors, and all other individuals who worked in an industry where asbestos exposure was prevalent [construction, firefighters, pipefitters, plumbers, automobile repair, etc.].
And, asbestos exposure still presents a health threat to our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as the export of asbestos to these nations is not banned, and there are no asbestos-usage laws there.
Interested in applying at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard?
You may contact them:
Job Information Center, Human Resource Office: https://chart.donhr.navy.mil or https://acep.hawaii.navy.mil, or send an email to victoria.nagasawa@navy.mil.
Vets, ever heard of the National Cancer Strategy?
Many veterans may be unaware that, in 2003, the VA released a document called the National Cancer Strategy, which outlines their plan for treating vets with various forms of cancer.
The National Cancer Strategy [NCS] document was published in June of 2003, and it stated that roughly 35,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed in VA patients annually – a number that has undoubtedly increased in the last 7 years. The VA released the NCS in an effort to provide information about how the veteran healthcare system would treat vets with cancer. Not only did it address cancer in general, but it also highlighted the cancers recognized by the VA as being “service connected.” Surprisingly, the list did not include mesothelioma, a form of cancer diagnosed in vets who were exposed to asbestos while aboard naval ships and via other military exposure sites [airplanes, base housing].
In short, the document [available on the VA website] outlines their plan for treating cancer, raising awareness, and providing cancer-related information to veterans. It also states that VA medical centers must establish a tumor registry and report incidents of new cancers to the Central Cancer Directory in an effort to collect new statistics. It also stressed the following items:
· Connecting vets with hospice care facilities, if necessary
· Providing rehab services to veteran inpatients and outpatients with cancer
· Increasing vet participation in clinical cancer trials
· Providing cancer screening for veterans
· Conducting cancer research specific to veterans
· Ensuring that vets receive the best cancer treatment available
It is safe to assume that a large number of veterans did not see this document or even know about the National Cancer Strategy, as it is fairly difficult to locate on the VA website, but unfortunately, the directive expired in 2008.
The VA says it is still committed to treating veterans with cancer. However, as previously mentioned, the NCS document, Attachment B – “Malignancies Recognized by VA as Presumed to be Service Connected Based on Hazardous Exposures” excluded mesothelioma cancer. Other cancers related to hazardous exposures, like acute nonlymphocytic leukemia [caused by exposure to Nitrogen Mustard] made the list.
Why wouldn’t mesothelioma – a fatal cancer that has no cure and affects at least 2,500 Americans annually, many of whom are veterans – be included in Attachment B? It is difficult, in many cases, to pinpoint a mesothelioma sufferer’s actual place of exposure to asbestos, as it was so widely used prior to the institution of usage laws in the 1980s. Asbestos was used extensively on naval ships, but it could also be found in other locations – shipyards, commercial and residential buildings, etc. A veteran who served on board a naval ship may have been exposed to asbestos in other places, too, and because the disease has a latency period of up to fifty years, it is sometimes impossible to determine whether or not a vet’s exposure was “service connected.”
Nonetheless, the VA does treat veterans with mesothelioma cancer. However, according to the VA website, mesothelioma is still not recognized as a service connected cancer.
It is important that you contact your local VA healthcare center upon a diagnosis of any type of cancer to receive more information about how their healthcare system can best assist you and your family.
Female veterans demand upgrade in VA health care
Nearly 260,000 American women have fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. These women continue their battle when they return home and struggle in a male-dominated environment. An institution like the military often overlooks the fact that females experience similar physical, psychological, and emotional problems as male veterans. VA hospitals across the country are facing this inadequacy and taking major steps to provide a more comfortable and equal environment.
Retired Air Force Reserve Cmdr. Gwen Sheppard, 47, returned from Iraq in 2003 and found herself suffering from a variety of health issues that were both physical and psychological. She said she was consistently ‘blown off’ and told that it was ‘just a female thing’ when seeking medical attention. Sheppard demanded they take a closer look and dig deeper into these issues; she knew something wasn’t right. Respect is hard to come by as a woman in the military explains Sheppard, she knew she deserved better.
Any health concern that a veteran has is entitled to a ‘closer look’. Whether it is trouble remembering like Sheppard or difficulty breathing, the hazardous conditions that veterans underwent while in the service is reason enough to pay close attention to any health ailments they may have.
When symptoms are left unattended to, serious health conditions can arise. Mesothelioma cancer is an example of a disease that is most prevalent in the veteran community and is often overlooked for its influenza or bronchitis-like symptoms. An illness like this can simply be overlooked until it’s finally diagnosed in its later stages, when aggressive treatments are necessary.
Female veterans do not deserve the poor attention and lack of respect that they are receiving in VA hospitals. It is disgraceful that we would take them less seriously than male vets.
"A lot of areas in the VA will still call you mister.' They don't even look at the first name, and they'll say, 'Mr. Sheppard.' And, of course, that's a trigger for me," she says.
Jill Feldman, director of the Women Veterans Health Care Program, says that Sheppard’s experience is not uncommon by any means. Feldman has taken the initiative to bring in more physicians who specialize in female comprehensive care.
Milwaukee VA has a new women’s clinic that offers a waiting room to feel more comfortable and at ease. Ironically, the waiting room has been filled with men mostly. Women’s medical director, at the Milwaukee VA, Dr. Kayt Havens, says it will take some time. “We have common threads now, so that you could start a program here in Milkwaukee, and if it works well, then it can get picked up by other VA systems” she adds.
Despite difficulty, progress is being made. There is currently a bill pending in Congress that would consent to a study of women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan that would research how their time at war affected their physical, mental and reproductive health. Further, this bill would also require a full review of the treatment women receive in the VA health care system.
Like asbestos, hexavalent chromium a "ticking time bomb" for vets
Think of hexavalent chromium and you may recall the movie Erin Brockovich. But the health consequences of exposure to this harmful contaminant are more devastating than anything you have seen in the movies.
At Qarmat Ali, a water treatment plant in Iraq, at least ten members of the Oregon Army National Guard were exposed to hexavalent chromium. They were attempting to protect employees of KBR, a war contracting company. The contaminant was spilled by Iraqis.
If you didn’t know, hexavalent chromium is so toxic that exposure to a grain-sized amount greatly increases a person’s likelihood of developing certain cancers, including lung and brain cancer. The service personnel who were exposed at Qarmat Ali were told that the exposure would not result in any serious health problems, and were given excuses by KBR as to why they were suffering from various symptoms, including nose bleeds [KBR told them that this was a reaction to the desert sand].
Now, a total of 21 soldiers from Oregon and other states have filed a lawsuit against KBR. However, the company firmly believes that it was not at all responsible for the spillage of hexavalent chromium at the Iraq plant, and that the company went so far as to post warning signs about the dangers of the substance. KBR blames Army engineers for the incident.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden from Oregon met with some of the men exposed to hexavalent chromium during a press conference recently. One man, veteran Larry Roberta, made his way up to the podium to speak. As he stood next to Sen. Wyden, Roberta coughed and struggled to catch his breath. His breathing and stomach problems are a result of hexavalent chromium exposure.
“There was no way to get away from it [hexavalent chromium],” Roberta said. “Our job was to watch KBR’s back.”
In addition to the 21 individuals who filed suit, the Oregon National Guard is still seeking about 40 additional soldiers who may have been exposed and did not respond to a letter sent by the Guard.
Sen. Wyden thanked Roberta at the press conference, and became visibly angry after watching him struggle in front of reporters and community members.
“Precautions should have been taken and they were not,” Sen. Wyden stated. “That is inexcusable. The soldiers have become critically ill…that, again, is inexcusable.”
Roberta testified in front of the Oregon Legislature in 2009 in an attempt to start a foundation for soldiers who develop cancers as a result of hexavalent chromium exposure. The 44-year old veteran also started a website dedicated to all veterans who may have been exposed and are now suffering as a result.
Most of the men exposed are in their mid-thirties or early forties, and have children. All are worried about what will happen to them health-wise in the future.
Former Sergeant Major Kevin Stanger of Carlton, Oregon, asked the media at the press conference to imagine the soldiers standing in swirls of dust at the water treatment plant, with “this stuff [hexavalent chromium] all over the place.” It was close to 140 degrees, and the men were wearing heavy body armor and trying to stay hydrated. His fellow soldier, Stephen Mueller, said he now has what he describes as a “chest cold year round.” He came on behalf of the soldiers who were exposed but are still actively serving in the military and cannot speak out.
Former medic Sergeant Jesus Bruno told the media that he is afraid that he won’t see his three children grow up.
“This stuff is like a ticking time bomb. You don’t know when it’s going to go off.”
The same could be said about asbestos. Exposure to asbestos – even in small amounts, like hexavalent chromium – may lead to the development of mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer that affects about 3,000 Americans each year. Well over 20% of those diagnosed happen to be veterans. Asbestos diseases have a latency period of up to fifty years, so those exposed may be well into their sixties or seventies when mesothelioma symptoms arise. Like the symptoms attributed to hexavalent chromium, mesothelioma symptoms include difficulty breathing and a lingering cough.
For more information about hexavalent chromium, please visit fellow veteran Larry Roberta’s website: http://www.qarmat-ali-vets.com/.
A search for information about hexavalent chromium on the VA website turned up very little information; however, the Dept. of Labor website does provide the following: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hexavalentchromium/index.html and more information can also be found by visiting http://www.hexavalentchromiumdangers.com/.
Attention: Raffle for injured Afghanistan war veteran
Jeff Jackson of the Soldier Support Project passed this along to me and I wanted to garner support via our blog.
Marine Corporal Josh Sweeney lost both of his legs after he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan. He was serving with the ¾ Scout Sniper Pit after enlisting with the Marine Corps at age 18. He was deployed on October 4, 2009 and just 24 days later he stepped on an IED while on patrol in the Helmand Province. Corporal Sweeney lost both of his legs above the knee, injured both hands, and has endured close to a dozen surgeries.
He says “I was prepared for what I was doing both physically and mentally before I left for Afghanistan. I knew what all the risks were and am glad to be alive.”
Now, Corporal Sweeney is looking forward to getting a brand new Ford F250. Gotta love a big truck!
The Soldier Support Project is holding a raffle to benefit Corporal Sweeney’s care and recovery. Tickets are $20.00, and the winner will receive a 2010 Ford Mustang, PA tax and vehicle fees fully paid.
If you would like to donate in lieu of purchasing a raffle ticket, please do so by emailing donate@soldiersupportproject.org. Or, you can visit the Soldier Support Project website, print up the raffle ticket entry form, and mail it to their headquarters.
If you’re on Twitter, please retweet today’s blog post & this information so that others can support Soldier Support Project in their efforts.
Women veterans invited to health fair on February 25th
Female veterans in the Saginaw, Michigan area are invited to attend a Women’s Health Fair from 10 AM until 2 PM at the Aleda E. Lutz VAMC Auditorium, in Room 1-1370 this Thursday the 25th.
In fact, all women in the community are welcome to attend, and children are welcome to tag along. The cost is FREE. Those seeking information about disease prevention, healthy lifestyles, parenting resources and other health-related topics should definitely put this in their calendar.
In addition, there will be massage therapists on site, as well as yoga demonstrations and free educational materials. Who doesn’t love free stuff? [There will also be free refreshments!]
Women vets are without argue faced with a number of different health concerns than their male counterparts. The VA, as many female veterans know, often struggles to meet their unique needs. The VA provides a number of female-specific healthcare services to women vets, including screening for female cancers and mammograms, maternity care, and more. However, as the number of females in the military continues to increase, some say that the VA must readjust their approach to serving this group of enlisted and veterans.
The VA reports that, in 2007, about 7% of veterans were women in their late forties. This makes the average age of female vets about twenty years younger than male veterans, and women in their late thirties to early fifties require unique care. And, as of 2008, 11% of Iraq and Afghanistan vets were women. About 44% of all female Iraq/Afghanistan vets were receiving healthcare services from the VA, and almost that same percent had utilized VA services more than once [Source: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/womenshealth/facts.asp].
Iraq and Afghanistan vets of both sexes are still faced with the risk of asbestos exposure, much like vets who served during WWII, in Vietnam, and Korea. Asbestos is the only determined cause of mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, or lining of the internal organs. The majority of vets who suffer from asbestos cancer are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, which manifests in the lining of the lungs, but many have also died as a result of peritoneal mesothelioma, or cancer of the lining of the abdomen.
30% of all veterans diagnosed with this illness served in the Navy, and the number of mesothelioma navy cases remain the highest. It is important to remember, though, that servicemen and women from all branches are at risk.
To learn more about the Women’s Health Fair, please visit http://ow.ly/18hSj or call 989-497-2500 extension 11468 to speak with Sue Calentine, Women Veterans Program Manager at the Saginaw, MI VA.
Hey, are you following us on Twitter yet?
I am proud to report that our Twitter account now has over 300 followers! This is excellent news, as it allows us to reach more people and share our information. If you’re on Twitter, visit us at www.twitter.com/veteransblog and see what the buzz is about! All of our blog posts are posted via our Twitter account following posting, and I update daily [okay, sometimes not EVERY day…] with important veteran-focused news, health information, and updates. If you have a veteran-related story or alert that you would like for me to share with our over 300 followers on Twitter, please send me an email at dkarr@mesothelioma.com and I will be happy to pass it on!
NYPD releases latest images of September 11, 2001 attacks
It never gets any easier to look at images of the September 11, 2001 attacks on America. The New York City Police Department has released new aerial photos, taken by the NYPD Aviation Unit, which were posted on the ABC News website.
The thirteen images show the World Trade Center towers after American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into them. Huge clouds of dark smoke trail from the top portion of the towers while the sun shines down on NYC. One of the most powerful images displays an unbelievable cloud of dust and rubble as it spreads out over Lower Manhattan. Included in the cloud of debris that settled over Lower Manhattan were airborne asbestos fibers, which are conclusively linked to the development of a fatal form of cancer, known as mesothelioma.
The World Trade Center towers were constructed before the institution of asbestos-usage laws by the federal government, and the 10,000 construction workers who worked at the site were likely exposed to asbestos during construction. Asbestos materials such as insulation, drywall, drop-ceiling tiles, floor tiles, and plaster were used inside the World Trade Center, and when the towers were damaged on 9/11, asbestos fibers became friable and subsequently were released into the air. For weeks, first responders, volunteers, and residents were breathing in airborne asbestos, not to mention other contaminants.
If inhaled asbestos fibers – which have a unique claw-like architecture – can lodge in the mesothelium, or lining of the body’s internal organs. In the case of NYC residents, cleanup volunteers and first responders, asbestos was likely inhaled and the fibers settled inside the pleura, or lining of the lungs. Eventually, these asbestos fibers may form a malignancy known as pleural mesothelioma. In some cases, those who ingested asbestos fibers may develop a malignancy in the peritoneum, or lining of the abdomen, and in even fewer instances, the fibers may have lodged themselves inside the pericardium, or lining of the heart.
An estimated 400 tons of asbestos was present inside the towers when they fell. While exposure to asbestos may not have immediate health consequences, those exposed may very well begin to experience symptoms decades after they were exposed in 2001. Mesothelioma symptoms include difficulty breathing, a lingering cough, chest or abdominal pain, or the presence of fluid within the lungs. First responders – police, firefighters, and EMTs – are considered to be among those at the most risk of developing mesothelioma in the future. Members of the military who made their way to NYC in the days and weeks following 9/11 to assist with cleanup efforts are also at risk (as is any military veteran who may have been exposed to asbestos during their time in the service – Iraq and Afghanistan war vets too!).
As you look at the newest images of the 9/11 attacks, take the opportunity to remember the events of that day and the sacrifice that our military men and women have made since then in an effort to protect our nation.
VA: Crews on several naval ships were exposed to Agent Orange, herbicides
The Agent Orange Exposure Compensation & Pension Service has reportedly collected data that confirms exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides on at least sixteen U.S. naval vessels during the Vietnam War.
Robert Mitchell, a writer with the Saratogian online newspaper, stated that a number of sources confirmed that offshore naval vessels known as “blue waters” conducted operations in inland rivers and deltas in Vietnam (these inland rivers and deltas were known as “brown water” areas). Veterans who served on those “blue water” vessels were more than likely exposed to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. The list of ships provided by the Saratogian included the USS Carronade IFS-1, the USS Clarion River LSMR 409, the USS Francis River LSMR 535, the USS White River LSMR 536, the USS Ingersoll DD-652, the USS Mansfield DD-728, the USS Richard E. Kraus DD-849, the USS Basilone DD-824, the USS Hamner DD-718, the USS Conway DD-507, the USS Fiske DD-842, the USS Black DD-666, the USS Mahan DLG-11, the USS Niagara Falls AFS-3, the USS Providence CLG-6 and the USS Okanogan APA-220.
Agent Orange is one of the most well-known herbicides used during the Vietnam War. It refers to a group of herbicides used between 1961 and 1971 that was sprayed over the Vietnamese jungles to deaden the leaves from the trees and expose enemy forces that were hiding there. The U.S. military sprayed millions of gallons of Agent Orange, exposing their own military men as well as Vietnamese forces and civilians. There are a number of diseases caused by Agent Orange that are recognized by the VA, including B Cell Leukemias, AL Amyloidosis, Peripheral Neuropathy, Lymphocytic Leukemia, and Multiple Myeloma.
Vets who served in Vietnam do not have to provide proof of exposure to the VA to receive benefits; Vietnam veterans who served during the aforementioned ten-year period are eligible for veteran health care benefits related to Agent Orange exposure. Children of Vietnam-era vets who have spina bifida or other qualifying birth defects may also be eligible for VA health care.
Like previous exposure to asbestos, Agent Orange can cause a number of serious, perhaps even fatal ailments. The men aboard naval ships in Vietnam not only had to be wary of herbicide exposure, but exposure to carcinogenic asbestos as well. Asbestos exposure on board U.S. Navy ships has led to the development of mesothelioma cancer in countless war veterans. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that has no known cure and is extremely aggressive.
Vietnam vets who served on board any of the ships mentioned above should contact the VA and inquire about further medical tests and benefits. For more information please visit http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/treatment.asp.
February 4, 2010 is World Cancer Day
Today is World Cancer Day, a day when people worldwide are invited to learn more about cancer, which happens to be one of the leading causes of death across the globe. It is important to learn as much as we can about how to prevent cancer, which happens to be this year’s World Cancer Day theme. The World Health Organization, or WHO, stresses a renewed focus on preventative measures that can help people across our world avoid a cancer diagnosis. These measures include sticking to a healthy diet and exercise plan, avoiding or limiting alcohol intake, the avoidance of tobacco products, and vaccination against certain diseases that can lead to the development of cancer.
For more information about World Cancer Day, visit the WHO website.
Thousands of vets may receive "upgraded" benefits from the military
Following a judge’s order in a lawsuit initially filed by seven veterans suffering from PTSD, the military has agreed to review the benefits extended to combat vets who are dealing with the disorder. The lawsuit suggested that the seven vets were denied benefits over a six-year period, which ended in late 2008, by the military because they had been diagnosed with PTSD.
Now almost 5,000 letters are being sent to veterans to notify them of an “opt-in” period [now until July 24th] during which they can file suit against the military, much like the seven veterans who originally filed. Attorneys for the seven vets believe that “millions of dollars” could be paid to vets following a review of benefits.
If the review determines that the military did in fact illegally deny veterans their benefits following a discharge and diagnosis of PTSD, veterans could end up receiving hundreds more in monthly benefits.
Former Army Sgt. Juan Perez of Michigan said that the new developments related to the lawsuit were a “relief.” Perez served two tours in Iraq, temporarily leaving behind his wife and five children. He now suffers from migraines, nightmares, PTSD, and an eye injury stemming from a combat-sustained head injury. He takes medication to stabilize his moods.
Perez has been forced to file bankruptcy after he and his wife lost their jobs since leaving the military.
“I’m glad that they are finally reevaluating the soldiers…and doing the right thing,” Perez told the Washington Post.
Former Marine Corporal Tyler Einarson, who is just 28 years old, was one of the seven veterans who filed the original lawsuit. He was shot twice while in Afghanistan back in 2005 and also suffers from PTSD. He believes that a reevaluation of benefits could make a “significant” financial improvement for many veterans like him.
PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder, develops in combat veterans who have suffered particularly disturbing situations during their time in the military. Symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares, mood swings, detachment, hypervigilance, and difficulty sleeping. PTSD may be successfully treated using one of many healing resources for veterans, including equine therapy and complementary therapies such as yoga.
In terms of the lawsuit filed, the military has taken issue with the “disability rating” assigned to each of the seven veterans who filed suit. Each was assigned a value of less than ten percent, and according to the military, an individual who suffers from PTSD and is discharged must receive a rating of fifty percent or more. Since October of 2008, veterans who are discharged with PTSD have received the appropriate rating, according to a spokesperson for the National Veterans Legal Services Program.
This higher rating ensures that veterans receive their lifelong disability payments each month, as well as free health care for the vet and their spouse. Minor children of a veteran who receives an appropriate rating also receive health care benefits.
In addition to vets suffering from PTSD, veterans who developed PTSD as a result of a non-combat-related event, such as a rape, may also qualify for reimbursements following the review of the military’s previous benefit extensions.
In addition to developing PTSD, veterans may also face the risk of developing mesothelioma, a fatal cancer attributed to previous asbestos exposure. Military men and women serving or who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan may not have immediate worries, as mesothelioma has a latency period of as many as fifty years, so it is imperative that veterans monitor their respiratory health as they age.
USNS Comfort arrives in Haiti
The USNS Comfort arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti yesterday to assist the Haitian people in the wake of a 7.0 earthquake that all but destroyed the port city. USNS Comfort personnel were faced with a constant procession of wounded, some brought by helicopter and some carried on board on stretchers.
Lt. Cmdr. Dan D’Aurora, the director of the USNS Comfort’s receiving ward and an officer in the ER at Bethesda, Maryland’s National Naval Medical Center, told the Baltimore Sun that he had seen “more patients in six hours” than he generally sees in a typical day.
Nevertheless, Lt. Cmdr. D’Aurora was glad to be in Haiti.
“This is what we train for. This is what it’s all about for us,” he said.
Patients were flown in by the Coast Guard, the Navy and the Air Force. A fleet of 30 helicopters transported ill and injured Haitians all day yesterday, and will continue to do so. About 70 Haitians were still on board the USNS Comfort, waiting to be triaged Wednesday evening when the helicopters landed for the day.
The United States military had planned on also running a boat shuttle, but transportation by water was not feasible following a 6.0 aftershock that “jolted” the USNS Comfort and badly damaged a nearby pier that USS Comfort personnel had planned on using to get patients on board.
True to the Navy, though, an alternate landing area for a boat shuttle had been determined by Wednesday afternoon in an effort to get as many patients on board and treated as possible.
Despite this, operations on board were slowed somewhat due to late arrival of another 350 crew members, most of who were scheduled to arrive by boat. They will trickle in within the next two days. Once all of the crew arrives, the USNS Comfort will be fully equipped to handle patients in need of treatment.
The USNS Comfort has 1,000 beds on board, and twelve operating rooms. While the ship has the capacity to treat thousands, the crew was overwhelmed yesterday. Helicopters had to wait their turn to land on the decks of the USNS Comfort.
When Haitians finally made it on board, they were transported to the main deck via elevator. The sight, one can imagine, was unforgettable: injured people – some on stretchers, carried by family members or strangers, some even wounded themselves – tumbling out of the cramped elevator to receive medical treatment from strangers.
A triage team assessed injuries before sending people into the elevators. Some patients wore stickers or tape with messages like “left leg” or “renal failure.” Before noon, the crew was prepping for a handful of surgeries, and at least twenty more had been scheduled by the end of the day. The crew faced difficult decisions: should they open another OR before the remaining crew members arrived? What if a patient came on board in need of extreme emergency care and the doctors were tied up in surgery?
Like any military man or woman in the face of a disastrous situation, there wasn’t much time to debate. The elevator doors kept opening, and the wounded kept coming.
Jeff Brown, a Navy Corpsman from Columbia, Maryland was assigned to the USNS Comfort almost three years ago, and has already been in Haiti twice. This time, though, it was much different.
“It’s a 180-degree turnaround from the last mission,” Brown said. “The desperation you sense in the patients..we’re here to take care of people and make a difference.”
The attitude on board the hospital ship, according to Brown, remains upbeat.
“Everyone is very motivated,” he said.
While the USNS Comfort is extremely well-equipped to treat individuals who have been severely wounded in a disaster, some patients required additional care. One Haitian man will be transported to an Army hospital in California, which specializes in treating combat-sustained injuries. The man was pumping gas when the earthquake hit, and the gas pump next to him exploded. He was badly burned and required amputation and burn-specific treatments.
The arrival of the USNS Comfort in Haiti has given the people there a sense of hope. Haitians shouted “USA! USA!” upon seeing the faces of American soldiers. While the recovery efforts are underway, Cmdr. Tim Donahue, head surgeon on board the USNS Comfort, reminds us that the process is just beginning.
“Haiti…is still dangerous,” he said. “A number of them [Haitians] have been injured in the last few days by walls falling on them. It shows how much work we have to do.”
Asbestos exposure fears in the aftermath of the earthquake
Following a natural disaster such as this, concerns about exposure to carcinogenic asbestos are high. Asbestos materials are often damaged as buildings crumble and fall in the wake of a high-magnitude earthquake, and during aftershocks. Exposure to asbestos may not present immediate concern, but in the long run, exposure may lead to the development of mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer. The Haitian people, as well as those who have traveled to Haiti to assist with relief efforts, must be mindful of the fact that asbestos dust can linger in the air and be inhaled for days and weeks following the collapse of buildings.
While it may not be on the top of their priority list, those who may be in areas where asbestos has become airborne should wear a mask that adequately covers their nose and mouth in an effort to prevent inhalation.
If you would like to assist in the relief efforts in Haiti, Google has created a “Crisis Response” webpage to provide information for those who wish to make a donation. Please visit http://www.google.com/relief/haitiearthquake/.
Google has generously agreed to donate $1 million dollars to relief-focused organizations such as CARE and UNICEF.
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