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| A Chinook helicopter from the Army Reserve's 11th Aviation Command, takes off in Uganda during Natural Fire 10. Check out all the photos from Uganda on the Army Reserve Flickr page. Video from Uganda can be found on the Army Reserve DVIDS page. |
By Maj. Corey Schultz
Army Reserve Public Affairs
KITGUM, Uganda— When a local Ugandan soldier sustained a head injury working a reconstruction mission at the local high school during Natural Fire 10, medical personnel made the decision that he needed urgent care at a hospital in the country's capital of Kampala, a ten hour drive. But fortunately, the Army Reserve's 11th Aviation Command had a CH-47 Chinook forward stationed and was able to medevac him by air within 90 minutes.
The Ugandan national, Pvt. Odongo John, Ugandan People's Defense Force, was helping reconstruction efforts at the local high school in Kitgum when a steel beam fell 20 feet to strike him on the head. He was rushed to the field hospital operated by the 629th Forward Surgical Team, another Army Reserve unit out of Columbus, Ohio. They provided immediate care --but the field hospital lacked facilities such as a CT scan or MRI to check for skull fractures and internal bleeding. The closest facility was in Kampala.
"The 11th Aviation's CASEVAC ensured that the Soldier received critical tests and care in a timely manner", said Maj. Jason Sepanic, U.S. Army Africa, deputy surgeon, who visited with the Soldier shortly after his arrival to the Kampala International Hospital's Intensive Care Unit.
The medical personnel of the 629th FST quickly stabilzed the Odongo John and moved him to the grassy airfield, where the Chinook was already spinning. He was quickly flown to the ICU where he could receive the care he needed.
"He has [since] been moved from the ICU into regular care and will soon be moved to the military hospital," said Maj. Chris Kasaija, Ugandan air force, liaison for air operations.
Chief Warrant 4 Todd McElmurry, U.S. Army Africa, Exercise Safety Officer noted that the work site had provided enough hard hats and safety equipment to prevent this type of injury, but because the Soldiers felt it would hinder their work ability, they failed to wear them.
"A key learning point we can take away from this incident is that these safety precautions need to be enforced," McElmurry said.
