Three - (7 December)
Jun. 15th, 2020 09:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
drewkittyThree (7 December)
"IDC to the bridge!"
"Captain."
The Independent Duty Corpsman was normally in an odd position. Medically trained, but not a doctor. Well versed in a wide mix of skills, but always ready to reach over his shoulder to the doctors and sickbays on the carriers.
This situation - this insane situation - meant that what he had, was what he had.
"Over eleven hundred sailors are going to be badly injured in the next three hours. What can we do for them, that the Fleet cannot?"
The IDC thought quickly.
"All contemporary sailors to put on long shirts and pants immediately. Many of the casualties were caused by flash burns to exposed skin. That alone will save many lives. Pass the word to decontaminate casualties exposed to fuel oil with soap and water, specifically green soap. That's about it."
"What medical capabilities do you have aboard that could make a difference?"
"Nothing compared to the Fleet. Oh, I have some IV sets that could be used to secure veinous access, particularly on badly burned sailors, but ... there hasn't been that much advancement in multi-system trauma care. I can do modern labs, but I don't have much in the way of that kind of supplies. My sickbay is equipped to stabilize a number of casualties, or provide modern care for a handful. It's nothing compared to even a 1940s shore hospital. Their stuff may not be as cool, but they have a lot more of it."
The Captain knew that. Modern military medicine counted on evacuation. But the nearest modern hospital was impossibly far away in space as well as in ... time.
"Much better to give the Fleet medical establishment our materials as samples. Technology transfer," the IDC added.
"We could vanish like a soap bubble at any moment. We altered history when we fired that first sheaf of missiles."
"And we didn't disappear."
###
"Message, urgent priority, _USS Roosevelt_."
Again? The relayed blinker messages through _USS Ward_ were those of a crank, or a madman, if it were not for the trails in the sky.
"... STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT ALL SAILORS BE ORDERED TO PUT ON LONG SHIRTS AND PANTS AT ONCE AS PROTECTION FROM FLASH BURNS ... CASUALTIES SOAKED WITH DIESEL OIL TO BE WASHED WITH GREEN SOAP AND WATER ..."
He picked up the phone, called the Naval Hospital.
It was the kind of details a madman would not think of.
"That's very thoughtful, Admiral. Someone over there uses his head for more than holding his hat up. I endorse the suggestions."
He wrote a message for the radio room.
"AT BATTLE STATIONS ALL SAILORS TO WEAR LONG SHIRTS AND PANTS IN ADDITION TO HELMETS AND LIFE JACKETS."
It was good advice.
"IDC to the bridge!"
"Captain."
The Independent Duty Corpsman was normally in an odd position. Medically trained, but not a doctor. Well versed in a wide mix of skills, but always ready to reach over his shoulder to the doctors and sickbays on the carriers.
This situation - this insane situation - meant that what he had, was what he had.
"Over eleven hundred sailors are going to be badly injured in the next three hours. What can we do for them, that the Fleet cannot?"
The IDC thought quickly.
"All contemporary sailors to put on long shirts and pants immediately. Many of the casualties were caused by flash burns to exposed skin. That alone will save many lives. Pass the word to decontaminate casualties exposed to fuel oil with soap and water, specifically green soap. That's about it."
"What medical capabilities do you have aboard that could make a difference?"
"Nothing compared to the Fleet. Oh, I have some IV sets that could be used to secure veinous access, particularly on badly burned sailors, but ... there hasn't been that much advancement in multi-system trauma care. I can do modern labs, but I don't have much in the way of that kind of supplies. My sickbay is equipped to stabilize a number of casualties, or provide modern care for a handful. It's nothing compared to even a 1940s shore hospital. Their stuff may not be as cool, but they have a lot more of it."
The Captain knew that. Modern military medicine counted on evacuation. But the nearest modern hospital was impossibly far away in space as well as in ... time.
"Much better to give the Fleet medical establishment our materials as samples. Technology transfer," the IDC added.
"We could vanish like a soap bubble at any moment. We altered history when we fired that first sheaf of missiles."
"And we didn't disappear."
###
"Message, urgent priority, _USS Roosevelt_."
Again? The relayed blinker messages through _USS Ward_ were those of a crank, or a madman, if it were not for the trails in the sky.
"... STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT ALL SAILORS BE ORDERED TO PUT ON LONG SHIRTS AND PANTS AT ONCE AS PROTECTION FROM FLASH BURNS ... CASUALTIES SOAKED WITH DIESEL OIL TO BE WASHED WITH GREEN SOAP AND WATER ..."
He picked up the phone, called the Naval Hospital.
It was the kind of details a madman would not think of.
"That's very thoughtful, Admiral. Someone over there uses his head for more than holding his hat up. I endorse the suggestions."
He wrote a message for the radio room.
"AT BATTLE STATIONS ALL SAILORS TO WEAR LONG SHIRTS AND PANTS IN ADDITION TO HELMETS AND LIFE JACKETS."
It was good advice.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-07 05:13 pm (UTC)