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Comfort Departs Halifax

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060505-07
Release Date: 5/5/2006 7:38:00 AM

By Journalist 3rd Class Heather Weaver, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 4 after spending five days in port participating in a successful international medical training exercise.

International participants embarked aboard Comfort included members of the Canadian Forces, British Royal Navy, and a representative from the Japanese navy. Also serving on Comfort were five members of the U.S. Public Health Service.

“[Having international allies embarked with us] has created a link between the U.S., Britain and Canada and allowed us to reach a common goal of better healthcare for surrounding countries,” said Hospitalman Pavel Cespedes, a casualty receiving corpsman aboard Comfort.

While in Halifax, Comfort teamed up with Canadian military personnel to create and execute a mass casualty exercise. Working side-by-side, Comfort’s combined crew took care of the wounded and kept the potentially overwhelming situation in perspective.

“The drill went very well and proved that the limitations are endless,” said Lt. Cmdr. Manny Santiago, casualty receiving division officer. “A lot of people came [to the ship] with very limited or no mass casualty training, and everyone has come a long way. We’ve learned to work together, understand each other better and just create a sense of teamwork and camaraderie.”

“It is important to build bonds between the multinational services,” said British Royal Navy Petty Officer and Naval Nurse Lisa Harrison. “At the end of the day, we’re all trying to accomplish the same goal, which is to provide the best medical care possible in each situation.”

Santiago said increased manning would make a significant difference in future operational contingency successes, because it will allow staff to work more individually on each patient rather than spreading resources too thin.

“Manpower-wise, we will have more people to help in the case of a military contingency,” Santiago said. “Ultimately, the patients will benefit because the more resources we have available the better the patient care will be. We do a great job with what we have, but if you can imagine adding even more resources to this ship, it will make care even more effective.”

Harrison said that seeing the other medical professionals taking care of each patient allowed her to observe new ways to give care.

“What we think is a good way of doing something may not be the best way,” Harrison said. “It’s also just about sharing knowledge, showing we can all work together and if we needed to, we definitely could.”

“It is important that we take this opportunity to learn from our allies and exchange information," said Capt. Albert Shimkus, commanding officer of the Military Treatment Facility aboard Comfort. "I can not be more pleased with the success of the exercise.”

“In a sense, this exercise defines Comfort’s future operations," Shimkus added. "More than likely, when Comfort is deployed for a contingency or humanitarian operations both our international and national partners will be aboard.”

After departing Halifax, Comfort will sail to Boston for a short port visit and then to Norfolk. After Norfolk, the ship will return to her homeport in Baltimore.

In previous missions, Comfort assisted in relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. At its height, the hospital ship had more than 700 medical and support personnel aboard to assist in the Federal Emergency Management Agency-led initiative to provide disaster relief to the Gulf region. The ship also took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom and provided services for rescue workers after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Comfort has unique capabilities for humanitarian relief missions including helicopter lift, advanced medical equipment, a wide range of medical skills, berthing and personnel support, as well as supplies to support medical operations ashore.