354 TFW COMMANDERS SITREP

File: aabia_09.txt
Page: 09
Total Pages: 18
   
    (11) (U) Large numbers of medications were outdated or missing.
    
    (12) (U) TA's did not take into account most common medical
    illnesses seen during initial days: no nonsteroidal anti
    inflammatory meds (NSAID); inadequate selection and amounts of oral
    antibiotics; no anti-tussive preparations; insufficient
    anti-diarrheal medications; etc.
    
    (13) (U) No suction available in the ER.
    
    (14) (U) EKG machine broken, not available to date.
    
    (15) (U) Cloth sandbags were old and fragile would not last long
    before rotting.
    
    (16) (U) E.R. relied on supply to get organized/unpacked prior to
    being able to treat (minor) patients. This further delayed
    operational status.
    
    (17) (U) Setting up hospital on asphalt was worth the wait. This
    allowed installation of running water and less dusty conditions in
    addition to a flat, level surface to set up on.
    
    (18) (U) Luckily we were able to get in on the planning of where
    sinks will be installed. The Bio Lab now has a sink with running
    water which allows us to run more samples efficiently. Recommend
    that this be included of all new ATH set up.
    
    F. (U) HOW OPERATING NOW:
    
    (1) (U) For the most part our job is complete. We are on base
    power with our generators serving as back-up power. Our complement
    of spare parts has proven highly inadequate. So has our small
    stockpile of nuts and bolts. We presently have four pieces of
    medical equipment broken awaiting spare parts from the states. The
    manufactures' parts kits that came with the equipment are simply
    useless. They contain 99% parts that do not fail. Our X-Ray unit
    spares kit is in the same state. We have never received the second,
    larger spares kit for the x-ray unit. Should something major break
    on the unit our x-ray function will cease to exist.
    
    (2) (U) Administration was only supplied with 30 days of forms.
    Regulations were not in the ATH. We need two lap top computers
    instead of two typewriters. Lap top computers would cut down on man
    hours generating duty rosters, moral call listings etc..
    
    (3) (U) X-Ray is operating great but at first it thought that the
    film had gone bad and would be down until we got a new supply of
    film. Everything made it through the heat on the flightline at
    Homestead and here in Saudi.
    
    (4) (U) Inexperience of personnel is a concern which we are
    addressing through training to the greatest extent possible.