Baghdad ER: Fifteen Minutes

by Todd Baker

The first hour after a major trauma is known as the Golden Hour. During those sixty minutes, every step in a patient's resuscitation can mean the difference between life and death. in Baghdad, American military personnel would bleed to death within minutes. We did not have the Golden Hour. We had fifteen minutes. This is our story.Baghdad Fifteen Minutes chronicles my journey to war as an Emergency Physician serving with the US Army. Beginning as I am preparing to leave my wife and infant daughter behind, the saga covers each of the major events, emotions, and characters I encountered while caring for America’s finest warriors during my tour. The physical, spiritual, and emotional toll the daily rigor of caring for America’s and Iraq’s wounded are documented, as well as many humorous stories and events we shared during our time.The emergency department, or EMT, of the 86th Combat Support Hospital became a family during this endeavor. We lived together, ate together, cried together, and triumphed as a unit. Our goal was to save every American soldier, sailor, airman, or marine that was carried through our doors, regardless of any horrific injury they had endured, and we eventually left with a 96% survival rate. We were their safety net; their shelter when things went wrong. Our team of thirty or so members cared for thousands of American soldiers, state department personnel, contractors, and Iraqi’s alike. We were the first American military hospital to be directly targeted by the enemy since the Vietnam War, and we endured more direct hits by enemy rockets and mortars than any Army hospital since that time as well.Baghdad ER will appeal history buffs who enjoy learning about units at war. The combat stories and conditions will peak their curiosity, and they will discover the world that awaits the American military personnel once they have been wounded on the field of battle.-Those interested in the medical field. Care for hundreds of critically wounded patients is detailed step by step. Chaos ensues time after time as multitudes of gravely wounded people are carried through the doors into our lives every day. Medical procedures are detailed in graphic nature. The scenes of our teams attempting to put these heroes back together and get them home alive occur on a daily basis, throughout the book.-Anyone interested in the Iraq War. Multiple major players on the world stage are encountered throughout the memoir, including President Obama, GEN Petreaus, Iraqi Prime Minister al-Malaki, and many others.-Anyone who enjoys a good story. Despite enduring fifteen months of death and destruction on a daily basis; despite witnessing many of the evil deeds that one human being could do to another, we managed to have fun. Water balloon fights led to ATV jaunts. Combatives with plastic bats fights led to practical jokes on each other. Baghdad ER is a modern day story of the movie MASH” complete with our smoking robes and martini glasses.Baghdad ER will be the first and only literary work available to reach to readers and show them first hand the world of combat medicine in the world’s premiere trauma hospital. Readers from all walks of life and with many different interests will laugh and cry with the soldiers of the 86th CSH EMT as they see combat casualty care through our eyes. They will see first hand the struggle our men and women in uniform endure when they have been wounded in battle in the streets of Iraq. Every reader will feel a renewed sense of pride and honor anytime they look into a combat veteran’s eyes.

Genres: Medical, Medicine, Military Fiction

379 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2011

Reviews

[Ethan Sieck · Rating 5 out of 5]

the book is really good if you would like to be in the military and be a doctor. the book is about a doctor in Iraq in the U.S. military. The book happens in Baghdad Iraq In a hospital. the book is written be a doctor in Iraq. The book is really good to read for people who like the military. the book is really good to read. the book is about a doctor who is an American in the military in Iraq.
there are words that are hard words and long words medical words. the book is a long book to read. the book has words that are hard to read in the book. the book is a long book to read and has hard words. the book is time-consuming book because the book is long and has hard words to read. the book has a medical word for medicine that is hard to read.
It is about a doctor in Iraq in Baghdad Iraq. The book takes place in Iraq and stays to the end then they come home to America for Baghdad Iraq. The book is a really good book to read. the book is about a doctor in Baghdad Iraq hospital for American soldiers and Iraq people. the book is a good book to read to of you like the military. the book is a good book to read.

[gloria segal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life & death at the Baghdad ER

See what it's like in the ER @ Baghdad, how the medical teams scramble every minute to save lives of our soldiers, citizens and insurgents. The relentless hours they work while trying to preserve their sanity and gracing our soldiers with the dignity they deserve. These are our unsung hero's who need to be acknowledged.

[patrick rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. I worked at FOB Union III as a contractor in 2011. It made the book that more real as I knew what you were describing thank you for the opportunity to read your book.

Great book. My heart goes out to there fine men and women who put others good or bad first . Thank you ALL!

[Summer D. Shope · Rating 1 out of 5]

hated it

As someone who deployed with the 86th CSH twice and lived at Ibn Sina… could this author be anymore whiny!!

[Alex Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because it highlighted what life looks like in a combat hospital. It also showed the reality of combat, with it being cruel and unforgiving. One thing that I did not like was how graphic it could be, but besides that, it is a good book. I gave it 4 stars because it was a really good book, and it showed the reality of a combat hospital. I would recommend this book to people who would like to join the military or people who like the military.

[Pamela Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

MASH R US

Excellent excellent book??I would advise all Christian persons to to read this book.Be warned has a few choice curse words in it.PORNOGRAPHY none PROFANITY YES??I really enjoyed book.Day to day combative zone in E.R. not only war but in the E.R.Doctor came from Texarkana I'm From Whitchita Falls Texas tech Tornado alley part of Texas.Noticed your lists of stuff n book REALLY funny.Also just like the show mash the docs did like the posh and circumstance of ARMY stature and RED CARPET Ceremony??No errors in spelling spacing type Os .And Paragraph Spacing and Parameters?? Where's hot lips when you need her.More than likely telling their wife's about her???MR.Baker did MARVELOUS JOB ON BOOK.Rating Adults but with PARENTAL Controls Consent ages under 12.Chris and Pamela ROMANS 16:16.

[Susan Mathis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read.

This was an excellent book. Enjoyed it ! God bless these men and women in uniform and thank you sir for telling your story!