Sick and Wounded

[hta1970]

After the AHT event, the other Confederate medical staff and myself have been talking about how to improve our medical impression and activities after the battle. This would include evacuation of wounded after the battle, treatment of wounded in field hospitals and sick call.

But without soldiers to portray the sick and wounded, we are at a bit of a loss.

So, I'm looking for suggestions from the rank and file as to how the medical staff can help the soldier act the part of the wounded soldier, encourage soldiers to remain on the field for 1863 evacuation, enourage soldiers to be admitted to field hospital for after the battle treatment and help soldiers with first person impressions during sick call.

Your thoughts and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[dusty27]

Harry,

The ATB event in November will feature a Federal bandaging station which will do some of what you are asking about.

Also, do a search on any Payne's Farm AAR threads or get ahold of a Columbia Rifles newsletter from the period to read about the medical scenarios and experiences at that event (Oct 2005).

Good luck

[JustRob]

I'm sure you've considered this, but consider doing something akin to the twelve hour overnight Field Hospital they did at Burkittsville 2001.

Having been there for the entire evening, it was quite worthwhile. Participants who spent the night at the hospital also participated in a raffle the following morning to reward them for their efforts.

If I could be assured that I would not bake in the sun for hours and could sleep that night is a decent place, I'd do it again.

[dusty27]

Rob et al,

Did I mention the bandaging station will be INSIDE a barn?:wink_smil

[Marc]

I'm sure you've considered this, but consider doing something akin to the twelve hour overnight Field Hospital they did at Burkittsville 2001.

Having been there for the entire evening, it was quite worthwhile. Participants who spent the night at the hospital also participated in a raffle the following morning to reward them for their efforts.

If I could be assured that I would not bake in the sun for hours and could sleep that night is a decent place, I'd do it again.

The Burkittsville Event in 2001 was one of the more successful hospital situations etc etc...took some work from quite a few people but it came off rather nicely for everyone. The candlelight tours work very well for the spectators and I still remember the period conversation Mike Murley and I had in the wee hours of the morning on politics.

Sometimes just a living history hospital, or after battle scene works well, but I agree it is hard to find participants to be the wounded or sick.

IMHO a smaller event would work better such as Burkittsville.

I feel it is a worthwhile goal to try and achieve especially with the increased interest period medicine etc both military and civilian.

[cprljohnivey]

For Sick Call... you could have "casualty cards" written up but instead of "your wounded in the arm", you could list the ailment the soldier is being assigned. Give some facts about the disease, the symptoms the solder is to represent, and even some folk lore that the soldier might know about from home civilian life like "put of poultice of mud and dandelion leaves on it". You can issue these cards at registration, or have someone hand them out just prior to the scenario to the willing participants. It was nice to see you come through the camp on Sunday. Had we known you were coming, our group would have been a little more prepared to do some fir-pir with you. Cards with ideas on what our ailment would have helped greatly.

For battle wounds.... I know personally I am afraid of getting covered in red gore. I had a very expensive coat ruined that way and don't see myself repeating that.

[hta1970]

This is some great information. Hank Trent mentioned the Burkittsville and that is they type of thing we are trying to do again.

The sick call ideas are good. Might be something we could give to each company commander for him to distribute for 1st person at sick call.

How are first sergeants with preparing lists of sick to be presented at sick call? I showed up at Brigade HQ, since my field hospital was set up down at division HQ, and both mornings was told no one had reported, but the second morning was invited to walk through camp to visit the boys and that is how I came to walk through and enquire about your health.

We are trying to be proactive about this so the medical staff does their 1st person job and the soldiers know what their first person job is also.

We probably should have had the buglers in on this too!

[Hank Trent]

For battle wounds.... I know personally I am afraid of getting covered in red gore. I had a very expensive coat ruined that way and don't see myself repeating that.

At Burkittsville, this was the number one reason soldiers were hesitant to volunteer to be wounded, so we made a rule of no liquid blood. If necessary, bandages were pre-painted with dried red paint, but honestly, I think the whole thing could have been done without any blood at all, and would have turned out as effectively, since the emphasis was on treatment, symptoms, paperwork, the running of a hospital, the interaction of staff, wounded and volunteers, etc.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[EVOC]

Having been there for the entire evening, it was quite worthwhile. Participants who spent the night at the hospital also participated in a raffle the following morning to reward them for their efforts..

It is always good to "give them something". Positive reward for taking the time away from portraying a healthy soldier. This might also allow some men to save face when they come to an event and find they are not in shape. Seems to happen at many of them.

[Marylander in Grey]

I havent used liquid blood for years. I also have ruined a few very expensive frock coats, while treating wound men.
I also find that the thought process of imagination "paints" a more graphic photograph on the minds eye the hollywood props.
We have been raised with movie and television violence, and have become desensatized to it.

[Duff]

When speaking of disease I would say mail the info to the participent a few weeks prior to the event instead of giving it to him at registration, This would allow the individual to do additional research and practice the impression beforehand. This is the kind of thing that has to be done very well.

Perhaps an idea for wounded is for the event to provide a some clothing to the participent pror to the scenaro.. This would mean you could have as much gore on it as you want and not have to worry about ruining someones 600$ kit. An extra 3 dollars in the registration fee wouldn't bother anyone and would cover the costs of a coat, pants, and shirt.

[Becky Morgan]

Perhaps an idea for wounded is for the event to provide a some clothing to the participent pror to the scenaro.. This would mean you could have as much gore on it as you want and not have to worry about ruining someones 600$ kit.

You beat me to it. This would not only work, but also be a good use for clothing that has otherwise gone beyond campaigning. If it's going to be muddy and "bloody", the condition of the fabric won't be as important.

[Marc]

You beat me to it. This would not only work, but also be a good use for clothing that has otherwise gone beyond campaigning. If it's going to be muddy and "bloody", the condition of the fabric won't be as important.

The Frederick Ladies Relief Society has used old clothing for the past years at their annual USSC Hospital Living History at Gettysburg each July.

[cprljohnivey]

"When speaking of disease I would say mail the info to the participent a few weeks prior to the event instead of giving it to him at registration, This would allow the individual to do additional research and practice the impression beforehand. This is the kind of thing that has to be done very well."

This idea would work for some events but I don't see it working for an event on the scale of AHT. I think sick call should be better communicated to the unit officers and nco Friday night so that they can gather some participants from thier units. Then cards can be dispersed at that time. Soldiers going for the "sick call" should be voluntary. Not eveyone wants to do fir-pir. Logistically, I don't see how sending cards out prior to an event the size of AHT is feasable.

[Duff]

I was thinking more along the lines of a smaller event, like After the Battle, or Winter 1864, rather than an event like AHT. I'm sorry if I wasn't clear.

[hta1970]

Actually, we are looking for solutions for both the smaller events and the larger AHT events.

Abstaining from fake blood isn't much of an issue for us. Neither the other Confederate surgeon or myself had any AHT and I don't think we ever would. Too much risk in ruining the patients of the doctors uniform using it and as Chris said, we can do other things to work around that. Surgury also only a small part of what was needed to care for the sick and wounded and we want to address the other parts too.

How long would a soldier want to reasonably be a part of a hospital scenario is a question we would need to know so we can find what we need to do in the time the "patient" has made available to us.

Also, how long are the Ambulance Corps litter bearers able to do their work in the field after an engagement removing wounded?

Right now we are looking at one ambulance which can remove two men at a time.

BTW - If anyone is interested in learning to drive an ambulance and can commit to participating, John Novicki is looking to add 1 to 2 more ambulances in the next year or two. They are a real passion for him and he would be happy to help train anyone.

[MickCole]

At Glendale-Malvern Hill, the organizers asked for volunteers specifically to portray wounded/sick soldiers. I would not have been able to participate in the event as a healthy soldier due to actual health problems (primarily severe spinal stenosis), but was able to participate as a wounded/sick soldier.
If event organizers asked for volunteers in advance, they may well get volunteers who might not otherwise be able to participate in the event as soldiers.
Something to consider.
Mick Cole