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Underwood Sailors Provide Medical Care to Injured Haitians

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100201-06
Release Date: 2/1/2010 2:28:00 PM

By Ensign Kim Hanson, USS Underwood Public Affairs

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (NNS) -- USS Underwood (FFG 36) has provided critical medical assistance in support of Operation Unified Response since their arrival in Haiti Jan. 16.

Underwood Sailors have worked at a triage center at Killick Joint Operations Center, located in Port-au-Prince. The 20 Sailors have treated patients with infections and minor injuries.

Underwood's Independent Duty Corpsman, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SW/FMF) Joe Swanson, has been leading Sailors in the medical assistance efforts, which includes administrating antibiotics, bandaging wounds, splinting and setting fractures, and minor surgical operations. The Sailors act as medical assistants, handing the doctors supplies, instruments, bandages, and some clean and sterilize wounds. Many other Sailors are transporting patients on stretchers either to medical wards or to wait for medical evacuation at the helicopter landing zone near the treatment center.

One of the patients Swanson treated was a woman with a large infected abscess above her left eye. He cleaned and disinfected the wound and gave the woman antibiotics.

"She came back the next day 100 percent better, so happy. She came to find me immediately, gave me a hug, and said, 'Thank You very much,'" said Swanson.

Other minor surgeries included a woman with a large cyst on her chin and a man with an abscess in his knee. "The big thing is the people know we're there," added Swanson. "No matter if [their injury] is earthquake related or not, they come to us because they know we're going to take care of them."

Killick was previously a minor first aid station. It is now used as a treatment center and operating room for minor surgeries. The center treats more than 150 patients a day, providing them with medical care or evacuating them to the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) for more intensive care. Underwood Sailors treated more than 130 patients and performed 15 minor surgeries.

"I did what I could to comfort those in pain, especially the women and children," said Yeoman 1st Class (SW/AW) Jeremy Campbell. "There was not much pain medicine to go around, so a hand to hold and a hug was all I could give. What was obvious to me was the thankfulness in their eyes. There was a graciousness and hope that cannot be overstated, and it is something that I will carry with me forever. Helping the Haitians is undoubtedly my finest moment as a Sailor and an American."

The triage center at Killick Joint Operations Center was staffed by many different organizations, including Sailors from USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44), USS Higgins (DDG 76), Haitian caregivers, and doctors and nurses from Mexico.

Ensign Angela Duran from Underwood served as a translator between ship personnel and Mexican doctors.

"It was incredibly uplifting to see people from different services and different countries, speaking different languages, coming together for the common goal of helping the Haitian people in their time of need," said Duran. "I feel privileged to have been able to be a part of that effort. I will never forget this experience."

Chief Quartermaster (SW) Karl G. Miller was deeply affected by his experience in Haiti. "It was an eye-opener. What you see on the news cannot prepare you for the devastation that you walk into when you step off the ship and onto shore. There was no end to the work that needed done or the help that could be given," said Miller.

Underwood, from Mayport, Fla., is conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations for Operation Unified Response under control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (NAVSO/C4F). NAVSO/C4F is directing all naval assets and personnel in support of Joint Task Force Haiti, the joint command element directing U.S. military capabilities support to United States Agency for International Development and the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti.