Military Officer - July 2006 - (Page 73) PATIENT [CONTINUED FROM PAGE 65] “John walked 500 meters in the suit, and by the time he came back, he was hurting,” says Livingston. “He was just drenched in sweat. It’s something that will take a toll on you very fast.” The EOD missions in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom are similar, though bomb techs in Iraq tend to see far more IEDs than their colleagues in Afghanistan, observes Sgt. 1st Class Willie Snell, operations sergeant with the 704th EOD who, as a team leader, spent 212 days in Iraq. IEDs are perhaps the biggest threat facing EOD technicians in Iraq and Afghanistan, Snell says, and the enemy is becoming increasingly sophisticated at making and hiding them. “They’ll place IEDs under some dirt, or drop a sand pile near the road and put them in there,” Snell says. “They’ll put bombs in trash, in tires, even inside dead animals. We handled several IEDs in Iraq that were actually pieces of curb. Anything on the side of the road can theoretically hide a bomb, and that makes driving very stressful.” Staff Sgt. Daniel Wilson, a team leader with the 704th EOD who has seen duty in Bosnia and Iraq, understands the threat. He experienced partial amputations of his left index PHOTO: STAFF SGT. PATRICIA FINDLEY, USAF Grieving servicemembers look on as honor guards fold the flag for two fallen airmen during a memorial ceremony in Southwest Asia. The airmen were killed by an IED. finger and thumb, severed tendons in his right wrist, shrapnel in his face, and the loss of hearing in his left eardrum when an IED exploded just 20 meters from him during a post-blast mission in Iraq. However, that experience has not turned him off EOD as a career. “When the adrenaline and the morphine began to wear off, I did start to question the job,” he says. “But I love EOD, and I’m not going to give up on it. I plan to continue once I’m ready.” As long as nations wage war and bad guys make bombs, there will be plenty of work for military bomb techs, say those in charge. “I don’t think the mission of the EOD specialist is ever going to change,” states Clifford. “But we’re constantly improving on things like protective equipment and equipment we can use as remotely as possible. But no matter what we do, we have to keep in mind that at some point a soldier has to put himself in harm’s way. I don’t see a point where this will ever be a job with no hazards.” MO What’s being done: Many hospitals, doctors’ offices, and pharmacies now have computer systems in place that can detect and flag possible drug interactions. Pharmacists, who are experts in medications and medication management, also are providing more one-on-one consultations with patients to answer their medication questions. What you can do: Experts recommend the following: ■ Tell your doctor about all the medications you’re taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements such as vitamins and herbs. ■ Make sure your doctor knows about any medications you’re allergic to and any adverse reactions you’ve had. ■ If your doctor handwrites your prescription, make sure you can read it, and when you pick up the medicine from the pharmacy, make sure the type and dosage are correct. ■ Make sure you understand everything about what the medicine is for, how to take it and for how long, and possible side effects — and what to do about them. What’s the take-home message? Find medical professionals you trust, but trust your own judgment and instincts as well, and speak up if something doesn’t seem right. “By being vigilant, engaged, and informed, patients can work with health care providers to prevent mistakes from happening,” says Pinakiewicz. “They can and should become partners in their own health care.” MO ON THE WEB ■ The Joint Commission on Accredi- tation of Healthcare Organizations (www.jointcommission.org) ■ The National Patient Safety Foundation (www.npsf.org) ■ The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (www.ahrq.gov) J U LY 2 0 0 6 MILITARY OFFICER 75 http://www.jointcommission.org http://www.npsf.org http://www.ahrq.gov
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