Surrounded by carnage, unfamiliar ailments and using extreme measures to save lives was not an easy task this month for Team Rubicon, a group of U.S. veterans and public-service workers who assist in disaster-relief efforts.
Accounts of touching survival stories and orphaned children playing in the streets of Tacloban, Philippines, drove the unique team to do what it does best – save lives.
Merely three days after the devastating Typhoon Haiyan swept the Philippines, 15 men who form part of Team Rubicon traveled there to contribute relief efforts.
With his paramedical and military combat skills, Durango firefighter and paramedic Breaux Burns recalled how gratifying his experience abroad was.
“It was emotionally draining, but also emotionally rewarding,” he said.
For Burns, helping wounded victims of war and natural disasters is nothing new. A switch turns on, he said, and he is able to immediately do what it takes to help those in need. In fact, he said, he finds it more difficult to turn that light switch off when resuming his normality because of the immediacy of his instinctual drive.
“Emotionally, I feel like I’m still in the Philippines even though I’m back in Durango,” he said Wednesday, about a week after returning.
Burns helped people when he served as a Marine in Iraq. Later, his combat and paramedical skills were put to good use when he joined Team Rubicon. Within a few weeks, Burns was sent to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. He continued his service in Oklahoma after deadly tornados there and in Lyons after this year’s catastrophic flooding along the Front Range.
He was part of the first group sent on the Philippines mission to assess the situation, he said.
As the medical officer, Burns assisted surgeons and various physicians in treating wounded typhoon victims in makeshift clinics. Putting aside his knowledge of Western medicine – or lack thereof at times – he assisted in various unfamiliar procedures, including performing cesarean sections and other major surgeries on office desks.
“The surgeons were very excited to see us,” he said. “You could tell they slept very little and needed help.”
The 12-day journey was an emotional experience, and he quickly got involved with the victims, he said. A lot of the patients had life-threatening ailments.
“They were in dire need, and I was willing to help in any capacity,” he said.
Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines earlier this month and killed at least 5,500 people. And that doesn’t include the 12,000 people who are still missing, Burns said.
Burns believes Team Rubicon works well because it mostly is made up of veterans who have a high degree of expertise in dealing with lifesaving situations.
“In that atmosphere, we’re not afraid to get dirty. But we know we aren’t getting shot at; we are helping people,” he said.
Burns recounts a memorable story of a woman who survived with her 6-month-old baby by hanging from her rafters for 24 hours. The water was at her neck when she was found, he said.
“Each person’s story is completely different on how they survived,” he said.
Burns is grateful for the support Durango Fire & Rescue Authority Chief Dan Noonan has given him throughout his mission.
“The reason I am able to go help is because of Durango Fire,” he said. “They are completely supportive of what I do and they have my back.”
Other communities have come to Durango’s aid during times of need, including during the 2002 Missionary Ridge Fire, and Noonan appears willing to return the favor when possible, Burns said.
Noonan expressed his admiration for Burns in his ability to not only assist outside state lines, but also outside the country.
“I was just very proud as the fire chief that somebody from our community of Durango and our small fire department could help somebody so far away,” Noonan said.
Despite Burns’ return to Durango, Team Rubicon groups from other regions still are assisting in relief efforts.
“The (Philippines) is really moving in the right direction,” Burns said. “They are moving on and rebuilding.”
vguthrie@durangoherald.com
