Nuristan PRT Medical Team treats gunshot victim

By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Natassia Cherne

Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team’s medical team treated a young boy who was accidentally shot at a wedding celebration in the village of Gundalabuk Jan. 19.

A 10 year old boy was rushed to Forward Operating Base Kalagush by his mother and uncle after being shot in the chest by an AK-47 during celebratory fire at a local wedding party.

The bullet entered the boys chest and excited through the his shoulder causing a shoulder or upper arm fracture.

U.S. Navy Lt. Brian Ferguson, a Physicians Assistant for the Nuristan PRT, and a native of Stevensville, Md. helped treat the young boy’s wound.

“The kid was lucky, the wound could have been a lot worse,” Ferguson said. “The bullet missed his lungs, all major arteries and exited through the left shoulder.”

The medical team treated the chest wound, splint his shoulder, and provided antibiotics and pain medication.

The Nuristan PRT’s medical team was able to stabilize the boy and evacuate him to a hospital in Asadabad for surgery.

 NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. Brian Ferguson, a physician’s assistant for the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, a native of Stevensville, Md., and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Rodney Ottinger, a physician’s assistant and executive officer for the Nuristan PRT, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., splint the arm of a young boy, who was accidentally shot Jan. 19. The boy was hit by celebratory fire during a local wedding celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, the senior medical officer assigned to the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, a native of McLean, Va., and U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class, Robert Dailey, a corpsman for the Nuristan PRT, and a native of Rutherford, N.J., check vitals for a young boy, who was accidentally shot at a wedding celebration Jan. 19. The Nuristan PRT’s medical team treated the boy. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Lt. Brian Ferguson, a physician’s assistant assigned to the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team, of Stevensville, Md., and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Rodney Ottinger, a physician’s assistant and executive officer for the Nuristan PRT, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., and U.S. Navy Lt. Jennifer Dreiling, the senior medical officer assigned to the Nuristan PRT, of McLean, Va., splint and check vitals for a young boy, who was Jan. 19. The Nuristan PRT’s medical team treated the boy after he was shot in the chest by celebratory fire at a local wedding party. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt Natassia Cherne Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)