Chapter 423 - Danger and Trouble (17)

11 May, JL International Mall, City F

While Joseph was working inside, Matthew gritted his teeth and moved from the command tent outside towards the triage area. He wanted to find out who was in control of the triage and on-site medical services, not only to ease his own concerns if Lexi was hurt inside, but also to ensure that the services ran smoothly, as given the current tensions with the police any issue would cause a significant conflict.

As he reached the triage area, he asked "Who is in charge?"

Without looking up the medic responded, "You have to wait, I am busy."

While he wanted to snap a reply, the medic was assessing a person for injuries. Getting that person the necessary treatment, was more important than dealing with him at that moment. Looking around, he saw a uniformed soldier with a stethoscope around her neck and headed over before asking "Can you tell me who is in charge."

As the Medic started to turn around, she said "And you are?"

Calmly Matthew responded "General Rong."

The soldier quickly finished turning, and started to move to snap a salute, so Matthew quickly said "No salutes. We are treating this as an ongoing risk scene, therefore saluting a senior officer places them and you at risk."

Dropping her arm, she said "Yes General." After a brief pause, the medic continued "I am Doctor, apologise Lieutenant Colonel Zhang."

Matthew was shocked, such a senior ranked medic. Colonel Zhang continued "You are surprised. I am a reservist, having left active duty late last year when my husband had a stroke. We returned here to our hometown, so he has friends and family around and I secured a position as the deputy head of Emergency at the state hospital. Now what can I do for you General?"

"I just wanted to check where things are at?" responded Matthew.

"General, I have had deployments to natural disasters and war zones during my full-time service. I know what is needed, and currently we are limited with supplies and facilities here in the city. We are triaging everyone for treatment and knowing the facilities medical judgements will be made as to where people are treated. I have spoken to my boss at the State Hospital and he has activated the emergency and disaster plan, which will allow us to use private facility resources. However, what we can do will ultimately depend on the number of injured people and their injuries."

"In those discussions, our current recommendation are, that all people need to be triaged here on site. Level 1 and Level 2 cases then need to be evacuated to the hospital for treatment, until we can get surgical facilities set up here. We also are suggesting that the lower triage level cases, where possible, are evacuated away from City F, for focusing on those higher level cases. That minimises the potential we could be forced to preference cases where we can guarantee survival over those whose survival is less certain. I have had to make that choice once, and while as a military officer, following orders, it was easy to do as a medical professional it remains a decision that I struggle to rationalise professionally. Can you ensure that everything is in place for those evacuations and possible evacuation of stabilised Level 1 and level 2 cases."

Matthew stood there, somewhat stunned, before saying "You have plans?"

"General, emergency and disaster situations have a clear pattern to follow. Working here for six months, I know the level of all the facilities, and what the system can cope with. Life, despite this will still go on. There will be motor vehicle and other accidents, people will develop life threatening conditions, women will give birth, and children will be children. We still must assess and treat them as their cases dictate and cannot shut the system down just for this. But I sense it more than concern."

After a brief pause, Colonel Zhang continued "Someone you know was inside?"

Matthew paused. Here he needed to be honest "My wife. She has a business that has a store in the mall, and unknown to me she had travelled here for work. No one can reach her, and we are all assuming…"

"General, she will be assessed properly, but I can promise you we will get her out on a flight to the closest Military Hospital, which is City Y…"

"City K not a possibility?"

It dawned, and Colonel Zhang responded "You are based there? I can try and get her there but no promises."

Matthew nodded, and said "Resources are on there way from various cities, and donations are being coordinated from private hospitals for treatment purposes. It will just be how that flows in."

Colonel Zhang looked around "General, I hate to be disrespectful but with the limited medical staff on site, I need to be involved in the triage process. Once we have more people on-site, I will step back into a management role."

Before Matthew could respond Colonel Zhang had walked away, leaving Matthew to turn and watch what was happening. It was obvious within a few seconds she was highly efficient at her job, and it was just luck that she was here, even just being a reservist.

Matthew turned and on the return trip to the command tent, his mobile rang. "Boss, just letting you know Head Honcho, Ben and I are on our way to the Mall."

"You are just…"

"Wasting time. No, but as the police will have the area cordoned off you need to advise them we are on our way to ensure that we can get through as quickly as possible."

"Fine," came Matthew's quick response before hanging up and hearing to advise Inspector Long who was coming.

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