An Influential Event

On 28 May 2013 just past 10pm, two military policemen had rushed over to alert us about a traffic accident that had just occurred in the nearby vicinity. I was a combat medic on duty that night, and together with two other medics we immediately rushed to the scene of the accident.

The scene of the accident was a complete mess. There were car parts littered all over the road and sidewalk, an overturned motorcycle and two victims lying motionless on the ground. We would later find out that they were victims of an intoxicated hit and run accident. I attended to the male victim while my other two medic friends attended to the female victim. Given the nature of the injuries, treatment and immediate evacuation was extremely crucial. I did some quick treatment and then activated one of the military ambulances which was on standby, to take the more seriously injured female victim to hospital. Soon after the female victim was evacuated, a civil defence ambulance arrived with paramedics to evacuate the injured man.

Both victims eventually recovered fully, while the drunk driver involved was arrested.

This incident has taught me that as medical personnel, it is extremely important to keep our skills current so that when we have to use these skills, we can apply them proficiently and calmly to achieve the best possible clinical outcome for the injured.