WEBVTT 00:00:01.418 --> 00:00:05.463 Today we are in Petawawa for Exercise Starlight Response, where members practice 00:00:05.463 --> 00:00:08.466 real world medical scenarios in a field hospital environment. 00:00:08.675 --> 00:00:13.054 Sergeant Lana Flemmer is going to tell us what it's like to be an operating room technician. 00:00:13.054 --> 00:00:13.471 Hey, Lana. 00:00:13.471 --> 00:00:14.472 How's it going? I'm good. 00:00:14.472 --> 00:00:16.975 How are you? Great. Excited to meet you. 00:00:16.975 --> 00:00:19.269 So, what does an OR Tech do in the military? 00:00:19.269 --> 00:00:20.895 That is a very good question. 00:00:20.895 --> 00:00:22.772 We do a lot. We. 00:00:22.772 --> 00:00:23.940 If we focus on the O.R. 00:00:23.940 --> 00:00:26.317 side of things, we will scrub and we will circulate. 00:00:26.317 --> 00:00:29.696 Scrubbing means we will hand instruments up to the surgeon. 00:00:29.696 --> 00:00:32.115 We will retract when necessary. 00:00:32.115 --> 00:00:36.411 If we circulate them, we're opening up like sponges, sutures all the rest. 00:00:36.411 --> 00:00:39.581 For for the scrub nurse and the surgeon, as required. 00:00:39.581 --> 00:00:42.792 Additionally, we will also sterilize and reprocess 00:00:42.792 --> 00:00:45.879 all of our own surgical instruments, because no one's going to do it for us. 00:00:45.879 --> 00:00:47.047 Okay, cool. 00:00:47.047 --> 00:00:49.090 And why are you up here in the field today? 00:00:49.090 --> 00:00:54.012 Well, we're developing a new concept, and this is one of our ways to trial it. 00:00:54.012 --> 00:00:57.015 We're exercising a, foreign surgical team 00:00:57.015 --> 00:01:00.560 in the field, and we're trying to figure out what will work. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:04.481 What won't work, because we will have to eventually deploy this in the future. 00:01:04.481 --> 00:01:05.440 Amazing. 00:01:05.440 --> 00:01:08.234 And when you're not out here, where else may you be working? 00:01:08.234 --> 00:01:09.194 So that's a great question. 00:01:09.194 --> 00:01:11.696 So if I'm at my unit, I'll do mostly admin. 00:01:11.696 --> 00:01:18.036 And other than that, I'll be in a civilian hospitals keeping up my O.R. skills. Cool. 00:01:18.036 --> 00:01:19.662 What's your favorite work environment? 00:01:19.662 --> 00:01:22.415 I would say this one when I get to work with all of my favorite people. 00:01:22.415 --> 00:01:23.458 Amazing. 00:01:23.458 --> 00:01:26.252 And what's the coolest procedure you've ever worked on? 00:01:26.252 --> 00:01:30.799 I've done a lot of cool procedures, but one of the coolest would be a 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:32.801 abdominal aortic aneurysm. 00:01:32.801 --> 00:01:34.177 Oh. Sounds intense. 00:01:34.177 --> 00:01:36.179 Okay, I'm super intrigued about the O.R. 00:01:36.179 --> 00:01:37.180 in a field hospital. 00:01:37.180 --> 00:01:39.182 Can you show us what it looks like? Absolutely. Come on in. 00:01:42.519 --> 00:01:42.936 Okay. 00:01:42.936 --> 00:01:45.146 Hang on. This is an operating room. 00:01:45.146 --> 00:01:48.191 Not only is it an operating room, but it's also a RESUS. 00:01:48.191 --> 00:01:51.027 And, PAC U slash ICU. 00:01:51.027 --> 00:01:54.572 Wow. And how long would it take you to sterilize this entire room? 00:01:54.572 --> 00:01:56.366 Considering it's a dirt floor? Never. 00:01:56.366 --> 00:02:01.496 When we're dealing with less than optimal surgical spaces, we tend to load 00:02:01.496 --> 00:02:06.334 our patients up with antibiotics and do following surgeries when required. 00:02:07.085 --> 00:02:08.294 That is so cool. 00:02:08.294 --> 00:02:10.088 And where do you work during surgery? 00:02:10.088 --> 00:02:11.714 So I can circulate or scrub. 00:02:11.714 --> 00:02:14.884 But in this type environment, I most likely will be the scrub nurse. 00:02:14.884 --> 00:02:17.053 Assisting the surgeon. 00:02:17.053 --> 00:02:20.056 And what kinds of things are you looking out for during surgery? 00:02:20.056 --> 00:02:22.350 It's my job to anticipate what the surgeon needs. 00:02:22.350 --> 00:02:27.522 For example, if he is packing the abdomen, I will make sure I have enough sponges. 00:02:27.522 --> 00:02:29.232 All right. It's looking really intense in here. 00:02:29.232 --> 00:02:30.650 Should we head out? Absolutely. 00:02:32.277 --> 00:02:34.779 All right Lana. What's your favorite part of the job? 00:02:34.779 --> 00:02:36.406 I get to work with an amazing team. 00:02:36.406 --> 00:02:37.866 Medical and surgical. 00:02:37.866 --> 00:02:39.659 How about your favorite thing to do outside of work? 00:02:39.659 --> 00:02:42.662 So I'm actually from Alberta, so I love to go see my nieces and nephews 00:02:42.662 --> 00:02:44.539 as much as possible. Cute. 00:02:44.539 --> 00:02:46.666 And how did you come to join the CAF originally? 00:02:46.666 --> 00:02:50.670 So I worked as a CIVI side O.R. Tech, and at the hospital. 00:02:50.670 --> 00:02:55.800 I worked at the military would come in and do surgeries on their own members. 00:02:55.800 --> 00:02:59.888 Fun fact is, the person who recruited me is actually our current trade advisor. 00:02:59.888 --> 00:03:02.056 And I was the very first direct entry. 00:03:02.056 --> 00:03:03.808 Wow. That's amazing. 00:03:03.808 --> 00:03:05.727 What kinds of opportunities do you have in the CAF 00:03:05.727 --> 00:03:08.605 that you wouldn't have working in the O.R. in the civilian world? 00:03:08.605 --> 00:03:10.356 So exercises like this. 00:03:10.356 --> 00:03:14.736 Also, I went to, Vigorous Warrior in Hungary this year. 00:03:14.736 --> 00:03:16.362 Wow, that sounds amazing. 00:03:16.362 --> 00:03:17.989 All right, Lana, last question. 00:03:17.989 --> 00:03:20.825 What would you say to someone considering a job as an O.R. Tech? 00:03:20.825 --> 00:03:23.328 You get to meet amazing people coast to coast. 00:03:23.328 --> 00:03:27.457 Also, if you want to experience over and beyond the O.R., this is where to do it. 00:03:27.457 --> 00:03:29.959 Amazing. Thanks so much for your time today, Lana. Thank you.