Operation SAMOA ASSIST
05 October 2009
Samoa Assist South Australian medics and AusAid
South Australian medics and AusAid joined forces this week (SAT 2 OCT local time) to tend to victims of the Samoan tsunami.
The team of paramedics, a trauma surgeon and an interpreter visited resorts and villages damaged when the tsunami swept through Samoa’s southern region on Thursday morning.
Dr Bill Griggs, director of Trauma Services at Royal Adelaide Hospital and State Controller of the SA State Emergency Centre, deployed to Samoa from Brisbane aboard a chartered jet carrying AusAid staff, DFAT personnel and interstate medical professionals.
Dr Griggs said his team was there to treat the physical and unseen injuries.
“Post Traumatic Stress is a big issue and can be difficult to spot,” he said.
“There have been a number of people we have seen who have been reliving the experience of being in the wave.”
Dr Grigg’s Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) deployed with 90 minutes notice.
“It has been good being part of the Australian response but don’t underestimate what the Samoans have done before we got here,” he said.
“The locals have been absolutely fantastic, there have been wonderful responses.”
The tsunami that struck Samoa and American Samoa followed an earthquake of 8.1 magnitude about 240km southwest of Apia in Samoa at 0648 on 29 SEP (local time).
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South Australian Dr Bill Briggs shakes the hand of a local Samoan Mother, Nika Luamuanu who is helping to clean up Coconut Beach Resort, after the Samoa tsunami.
(Date taken: 02 October 2009)
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AusAID worker Leota Calma Galuvao finds brochures of her Samoan island paradise of what it looked like before the tsunami hit Coconut Beach Resort on the south side of Samoa.
(Date taken: 02 October 2009)
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Coconut Resort Mangager Jeff Lynn, talks to Dr Bill Griggs. Special Operations Team Rescue Paramedic Phil Dalton preps medical equipment before attending several wounds sustained by Jeff during the Samoa tsunami.
(Date taken: 02 October 2009)
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Dr Bill Griggs,treats the leg of Jeff Lynn, Manager of the Coconut Beach Resort, as Special Operations Team Rescue Paramedic Phil Dalton looks on.
(Date taken: 02 October 2009)
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Local Samoan and mother of four young children, Nika Luamuanu, talks to South Australian Doctor Bill Griggs as she tells their story of survival and escape from the Tsunami.
(Date taken: 02 October 2009)
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Elements of the South Australian Medial Assistance Team interviews a local resident Nika Luamanu. The Medical team includes, (L-R) Rescue Paramedic Ray Cossey, Emergency Manamenent Officer Paul McGowen, Rescue Paramedic Phil Dalton, with trauma specialist Dr Bill Griggs.
(Date taken: 02 October 2009)
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South Australian Dr Bill Griggs, looks over and accesses the damage done to a southern Samoan costal village Poutasi after the Samoa Tsunami.
(Date taken: 02 October 2009)
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Special Operations Team Rescue Paramedic Ray Cossey attends to a local villager, Mr Journor Tualogo, who chats to AusAID worker Leota Valma Galuvao. Mr Tualogo injured his foot during the Samoa Tsunami.
(Date taken: 02 October 2009)
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