STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERSIAN GULF

File: 110596_sep96_decls2_0035.txt
Page: 0035
Total Pages: 48

Subject: STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERSIAN GULF        

Unit: VAR. BUMED  

Parent Organization: BUMED       

Box ID: BX303818

Folder Title: USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992                                                  

Document Number:          4

Folder SEQ  #:         13











             because the swelling and discoloration caused by the steam

             burns were so disfiguring. Several of the survivors were

             gasping for air as their wind pipes swelled shut. These men

             had to be intubated on the floor of the mess dock. Litter

             bearers pulled off large pieces of skin when they tried to

             move their friends. Six men died at the scene, but four

             were stabilized in the medical department and flown by

             helicopter to the USNS Comfort where they all eventually
             died despite heroic efforts on the part of the medical

             staff.

                  The Comfort received word of the disaster 30 minutes

             before the casualties arrived. Several members of the

             mental health team had served on Navy Special Psychiatric
             Rapid Intervention Teams (SPRINT), psychiatric consultation

             teams deployed for shipboard disasters. The Navy

             established SPRINT teams in 1977 following shipboard

             disasters aboard the USS Belknap and USS Kennedy in 1975,

             and the USS Guam and USS Trenton in 1977. These disasters

             resulted in long-term problems including increased
             psychiatric disability, poor work performance, marital

             discord, and psychiatric hospitalization (McCaughey, 1987).

             SPRINT teams used techniques developed by combat
             psychiatrists during World War I and World War II to provide,
             aggressive psychological support to service members

             traumatized by disaster. The team's effectiveness was




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Document 48 f:/Week-39/BX303818/USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992/stress and coping with trauma of war in the pers:1104960910243
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-39
Box ID = BX303818
Unit = VAR. BUMED
Parent Organization = BUMED
Folder Title = USNS COMFORT TAH 20 MEDICAL ARTICLES 1991 1992
Folder Seq # = 13
Subject = STRESS AND COPING WITH TRAUMA OF WAR IN THE PERS
Document Seq # = 4
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 04-NOV-1996