Chapter Thirteen #2
Striker rallied his team. “Gentlemen, here we go. Creed, you’re learning the ropes, so I want you out front, a steady cadence as you jog the length of the crash.
You need to establish a video connection with Logistics and narrate what you’re seeing.
As you pass by a car, read off the license plate if you can quickly see it.
That information will help emergency services identify the owner.
Count heads, guess at ages, describe obvious injuries on the run.
That will be the first level of information for Emergency management to assess the types of resources that are needed so they can deploy the right number of people and bring in the right equipment.
” He looked down at Rou, leaning forward, ready to leap into action as soon as Creed gave the command.
“Let’s leave Rou in her crate for now. But in case we need her later, go ahead and put her shoes on so she isn’t cut by broken glass. ”
As Creed crouched to pull Rou’s socks and shoes from her zippered tactical vest and signaled her to lift a paw to get dressed, Striker continued.
“Next out is Gator. Your job is visual triage. Fast and dirty.” Striker lifted the strap and moved a box in front of Gator.
Clasped to the strap were indelible markers.
Inside were triage tags. “Use one tag per car, duct tape the tag to the right passenger’s door if possible.
Keep your phone on speaker. As you fill out the tag, you’re simply saying it out loud.
If you think it will cause undue stress to the car’s occupants, then just say the number of passengers and their corresponding colors, which will give the responders more information about resources required. ”
The purpose of a triage system was to provide a quick and straightforward way of communicating an assessment. The sheet was a prioritization.
Red patients took transportation priority. Red meant that they had life-threatening injuries, but that if they got help fast, they could survive.
Yellow meant the person was seriously injured, but death wasn’t imminent. They could wait a bit.
Green was for minor injuries, what they called “walking wounded.”
The lucky ones who fell under the “White” category were fine.
Black meant they were dead or that their injuries were so extensive that treating them was performative for the family’s mental health, like performing CPR when the subject had been face down in the water for ten minutes.
Any attention given to a black tag meant moving resources away from red tags, who had a chance.
This was going to be hard on Gator. Essentially, at a glance, he was tasked with determining who might live and who would die. With the closed rural hospital and the urban hospital almost an hour away, even with lights and sirens, Gator would have to weigh that distance into the tag system.
Gator looked up and said to no one in particular, “Not much chance of getting medivac support in this weather.”
Striker turned to Blaze. “Grab a roll of duct tape out of the back for Gator. And while you’re in there, grab the bag of tourniquets and the window breaker. You’ll go behind him. Your job is to tourniquet and move on.”
“Sir.” Blaze rounded to the back of their transport, and Creed was glad they were positioned effectively. Their equipment would undoubtedly save lives.
Another car barreled by them at full speed, and the men shouted and waved to no effect. Moments later, there was the screech and the bangs.
“Blaze, Gator, and Creed, as you move forward, tell anyone who can reasonably get themselves out of their cars to move up on the ridge that they need to move. Under normal circumstances, it’s counseled that the safest place to stay is in your vehicle.
But on a day like today, if Jack isn’t able to get people to turn around, this will continue to be a bumper car situation.
What might be a mild injury in this moment might become a deadly crush in the next. Better up the hill and wet.”
“Hypothermia in this rain,” Deep said.
“Yup.” Striker raised his voice, “Blaze, pull out the box of Mylar blankets and hand them to Deep. Deep, you’re ahead of Blaze, take the window breaker and pop the window or open the door so Blaze can get right in there for a fast tourniquet.
Seconds matter. Hand a blanket to every person until you run out. ”
Deep accepted the box. “If I run out, that’s going to be a bad sign.”
“As you get them moving, Deep, make sure you warn them about the effects of the weather. They should crouch together and try to keep warm with body heat. Tell them to take shelter under those evergreens unless there’s more lightning.
Another thing,” Striker said, “some of these folks might be in shock. Look for the most cogent, helpful people and put them in charge of those who might be at higher risk.”
“Sir,” the team said in unison.
“Gentlemen, people will see our uniforms and want us to stay with them and help. There are babies and children in the mix. It’s going to be tough, but head over hearts saves lives.”
“Sir.”
“All right, Creed, head out.”
“Moving,” Creed said as he glanced at his phone. No text from Auralia. Had she followed Morrison and already crossed out of the danger area, or had she gone south on her way back to the bed and breakfast?
Creed was glad to be the point guy. He’d be thorough but move fast. He’d be the first to get to the bridge.
Iniquus was all about family, and if he found Auralia needed him, Iniquus would stand one thousand percent behind his decision to focus on her, just as he would if any of his brothers needed him.
Creed pulled out his phone. Before he dialed into Iniquus Logistics, he took a moment to send a quick text.
Creed: Cherished, are you and Doli okay?