Day 190: Be Prepared

You know the Boy Scouts motto, "Be Prepared". As a small team of one physician and 8 medics, we are always learning, training and reviewing trauma scenarios in order to keep our clinical skills sharp in the event that we get overwhelmed by US casualties (knock on wood). In the last 3 weeks, the motto "be prepared" were words to live by as we have experienced 3 rocket attacks with 2 hitting into our base as well as 3 roadside bombs discovered on the access roads leading to our base. We have also assisted in several trauma situations with our Afghan counterparts. Fortunately, our US troops have not suffered any injuries as of yet.

Petty Officers Lyon and Garcia Taking Care of Battlefield Wounds
IED Blast, Feb 4th, 2009

But, on Feb 4th 2009, our level of preparedness was taken to yet another level. That morning, I heard a "boom"and was told that a convoy of South African security contractors were hit by a roadside explosive just outside our base. That meant that they were all coming to our base and we needed to ready...I heard of 3 people then 5 people...the reality was that no one knew since we had lost communication. With what little info we had we were on it, and we transformed our little clinic into a trauma-ready emergency room within minutes...we had airway, suction, IV fluids, tourniquets, bandages, and medical personnel ready to go! I must say I was very impressed...the Boy Scouts would have been proud.

Luckily, we ended up with only 1 injured soldier while several others were taken to other facilities. He had cuts on his face from shattered glass, but overall he was did well. I actually found his working out in the gym several hours later! Once again, another close call and a reminder that anything can happen at anytime.

Going back to the lesson preparedness, I thought of the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25. The story of 10 women, all well-intentioned, and all invited to a wedding celebration. The difference was their level of preparedness to keep their lamps burning...half were ready and half were complacent. This resulted in half taking part in the celebration and the others being left behind.

Rocket Attack #2
Jan 31st, 2009

The parable is as plain as can be. How many more warnings do we as well-intentioned Christians need? How many more "rockets" and "bombs", in the form economic crises, global wars, and disasters, need to explode around us before we realize that we need to be prepared for a new heaven and new Earth? Hopefully, not too many more because before you know it time has run out.

"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." Matthew 25:13 KJV