(15 Dec 1995) English/Nat
Hidden mines, unexploded weapons and bitter cold are just a few of the problems which will confront - and possibly injure - troops belonging to the Implementation Force (IFOR) in Bosnia.
A fully equipped hospital is necessary to treat any of the casualties, and for the Bosnian peace mission that will be on board a warship - the U-S-S Wasp.
The 600 hundred bed hospital will serve troops and, in some cases, civilians.
Medical personnel on board have been training for this mission since May.
While the U-S-S Wasp's deck is made ready as a launch pad for helicopters and Harrier jets, down below a 600 bed hospital is being made ready to receive patients.
Currently in port at Trieste, the 844 foot (270 metre) U-S-S Wasp is the lead ship of an all-new class of multi purpose amphibious assault ships. Its primary mission is to support a U-S Marine landing force.
There are over two thousand marines and about one thousand U-S Navy sailors aboard.
Besides its primary mission, the floating facility can handle almost any medical emergency. It has 16 intensive care, and 60 general care beds, with a capacity for 600 patients if needed.
SOUNDBITE:
"This is the largest medical treatment facility afloat in the Adriatic Sea Theatre at the present time. We have six operating rooms, two x-ray rooms and a full laboratory and we have the capability of carrying one thousand units of frozen blood aboard the ship."
SUPER CAPTION: Sergeant Herald R Rothert, Health Care Administrator
While the type of injuries which accompany full scale fighting are not expected, a force the size of IFOR is expected to need medical back-up, especially given harsh winter conditions.
The staff have had special training for trauma patients with cold injuries and mine injuries.
SOUNDBITE:
"As far as battle injuries I think we expect more anti-mine and sniper than anything else. Most of our injuries we expect to be non-battle injuries due to all of the movement of personnel. Anytime you move 50-thousand personnel in and out of an area in the middle of winter you're going to have injuries."
SUPER CAPTION: Lieutenant John D Stewart, Chief Surgeon
It's not only clean and gleaming equipment which make this a good facility, it's the little touches.
This Christmas tree's bound to be appreciated by patients.
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