USU students have ‘earth-shattering’ rotation in Alaska
By Sarah Marshall
He was on
the fifth day of his clinical rotation at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
(JBER) in Anchorage, Alaska, and was about to see a patient in a flight medicine
clinic the morning of Nov. 30. Air Force Maj. Theodore Szerszenski, a student
in Uniformed Services University’s (USU) Graduate School of Nursing (GSN), stopped
in to see his preceptor to discuss the patient’s case when the building suddenly
began to rattle and ceiling tiles began falling to the ground, filling the air with
dust and debris.
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A view of the commissary on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, after a 7.0 earthquake shook stock from shelves Nov. 30. (U.S. Air Force) |
A major earthquake
was ripping through the city, and as the shaking intensified, pipes burst from
behind the walls, causing water to fill their offices and hallways. Szerszenski
and his preceptor, along with their non-commissioned-officer-in-charge who was
in the office with them at the time, braced themselves inside the doorway as
the crumbling building continued to jerk every which way.
“It was like
being on a bad amusement park ride,” Szerszenski said.
When the
rumbling finally subsided about 30 or 40 seconds later, they quickly made their
way through a few “waterfalls” to escape the severely damaged building.
Luckily, everyone made it out safely, he said. Once outside, everything seemed
silent except for the sounds of fire engines in the distance. Despite being
cold and wet, the Flight Medicine team quickly shifted gears, assuming their disaster
response roles to provide ambulance coverage. The Flight Medicine building
later closed due to the damage, and the clinic was moved to the main JBER
hospital on base.
Meanwhile, across
the base, Szerszenski’s GSN classmate, Air Force Maj. Bryan Hersch, was also in
the midst of his clinical rotation. Hersch was getting ready to see a patient
in the Family Health clinic in the JBER hospital that morning when, out of nowhere,
“the building shook like crazy, taking everyone by surprise,” he said.
“We all
ducked and covered as the lights dimmed and power went out,” Hersch said.
“Everyone was pretty calm though, as we all evacuated our rooms, and made sure
there were no patients left behind. Overall, it was very orderly and everyone
was cooperative and understanding as we found the nearest exit and re-grouped
at the egress point outside and accounted for everyone … Once we realized the
damage that was done, and the extent of those affected, it all started to sink
in.”
He noted that the hospital staff were “amazing.” It was their teamwork and leadership that kept a difficult situation moving in a safe direction, he said. The hospital’s readiness teams were quickly activated and the Family Health clinic prepared to see patients, he explained.
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A photo taken during an aerial damage assessment on Nov. 30, 2018, following the earthquake that hit the Anchorage and Matanuska-Susitna Valley areas. (U.S. Air National Guard photo /Released) |
“We gathered supplies, checked our bags for equipment available and made adjustments as the patients were diverted in our direction,” Hersch said.
He added
that they also made sure the EKG and crash cart were ready to go and that the
oxygen tanks were stocked. He helped ensure the medics had supplies in their
pockets, pressure dressings, trauma shears, and various other supplies should they
need to be diverted again. Luckily, there were no trauma patients. Most of the injuries
they saw were lacerations from broken glass and falls from slipping, Hersch
said.
Fortunately,
there were no reported deaths or life-threatening injuries as a result of the
quake, but the region was still shaken from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake. The
quake’s epicenter was about eight miles north of Anchorage and was felt at a
depth of some 25 miles. It initially left about 50,000 residents in the area
without power, and hundreds of buildings, roads, and bridges were damaged or
closed. In the hours after, several smaller aftershocks continued to rock the
area, including a 5.8 aftershock about five minutes later. Alaskans are no
strangers to earthquakes, though. The state sits on a major fault line between
the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. However, most are so minor they
go unnoticed.
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In less than 48 hours after the 7.0 magnitude Earthquake striking the Anchorage area, JBER is mission ready and capable of resuming regular operations. Although many mission operations have resumed, many facilities, including the commissary, sustained significant damages requiring a massive clean-up effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Crystal A. Jenkins) |
After the
7.0 quake, JBER leaders toured the facilities on the installation to assess the
damages. The commissary endured significant damage, but more than 120
volunteers and 60 employees turned out to help with the clean-up effort to help
make sure the store could open sooner. Due to the quick response and combined
efforts of essential and non-essential personnel, the installation was capable
of resuming regular operations in less than 48 hours after the earthquake. Outside
the installation, crews repaired most major road damage within four days,
according to news reports.
“I am
grateful that out of all the damage the earthquake caused to the surrounding
area that there were few critical injuries,” Hersch said.
Szerszenski shared
similar sentiments, feeling fortunate that those around him made it to safety.
The
students’ preceptors, who provide on-site supervision and mentorship during
their clinical rotation – sang their praises after the dust settled.
"Maj. ‘Ski’
responded promptly and appropriately during our 7.0 earthquake,” said
Szerszenski’s preceptor, Air Force Capt. Billy J. Atherton, a flight medicine
physician assistant. “Our clinic was devastated and had to be evacuated
immediately. He was eager to assist when and where he was able. He helped us
clear the building ensuring all patients were safe and he helped us quickly
salvage essential supplies. He also remained with us as a field response team
in preparation for a mass causality. His quick response and willingness to put
himself in harm’s way to ensure the safety of others is remarkable and speaks
volumes to his character."
Air Force
Maj. Jonathan Beatty, a GSN alumni and Hersch’s preceptor, said that they were
fortunate the patient flow was minimal, but they were able to stand ready due
in part to his leadership.
“He helped
us set up the minimal team treatment area for potential mass casualties, and
helped me treat and assess several patients,” Beatty said. “He helped me take
charge of a group of techs and jumped right in getting things done. Through it
all, he was calm and proficient. He also made sure Maj. (Szerszenski) was doing
well and coordinated with me to make sure they both had their needs met. I’ve
enjoyed having him in clinic. It’s been an unusual week, but he took it in
stride.”
Both
students will report back to USU this week to complete their upcoming exams
before a well-earned winter break.