Proximity to Level 1 Trauma Center Helped Save Lives in Orlando, Doctors Say

June 14--Location was everything when it came to treating the victims from the Pulse nightclub mass shooting.

"I think in trying to search for saving graces and silver linings, the fact that this tragedy happened within two blocks of one of the country's top Level 1 trauma centers was such an advantage," said Dr. George Ralls, director of health and public safety at Orange County Government, referring to Orlando Regional Medical Center.

By Monday afternoon, 29 shooting victims remained at ORMC, five of them in grave condition. Surgeons had performed more than 30 operations.

The death toll remained at 49, plus the shooter.

There could have been more dead had it not been for the quick action of emergency responders and their coordinated efforts with local hospitals.

"Their ability to mobilize resources cannot be understated in these lifesaving efforts that took place yesterday," Ralls said.

Emergency responders carried bodies quickly to the trauma center, not missing a beat in the field, a lesson learned from frequent drills.

Dr. Michael Jablonski, president of Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic in Orlando and an Orlando native, reached out to orthopedic surgeons at ORMC on Sunday morning and offered his team's help, although it was not needed.

"Typically with these [semi]-automatic rifles, the amount of energy that's causing these injuries is tremendous," he said. Patients are also not only at risk of limb loss due to extensive injury, but also are at risk of infection.

"Every physician is not trained to handle this type of injury," said Jablonski. "I think we're very, very lucky to have a Level 1 trauma center in this area."

Denisse Ponce and her husband, Bill Myrie, sat outside ORMC Monday afternoon while her cousin Joshua underwent a four-hour surgery that would take a bullet out of his arm and close his open stomach wound. This was his second surgery since being admitted on Sunday morning.

He was hiding in a locked bathroom at Pulse on Sunday morning with more than a dozen people when Omar Mateen opened fire.

"He started shooting through the door and the bullets went through the door and through the walls," she said Joshua told her.

Joshua was hit twice.

"We're very lucky to have him alive," Ponce said.

Support is one of the key factors at this time to help victims, families and the community to move forward, said Dr. Bryan Batien, a psychologist with the VA. He and nearly 20 colleagues were at Beardall Community Center to counsel families who were being notified of the death of their loved ones.

"By being here, by supporting the families we hope that we reduce the odds of people having PTSD," Batien said.

Ralls said he had been involved in active shooter scenarios and has also been a victim of an active-shooter scenario, but none compared with Sunday morning's tragedy.

"We do have this little saying in our area that 'It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.' There's always that slight hope that it's probably not going to happen, and in this case, it's happened. It's played out and I hope this is the worse thing that I ever see happen to a community for the rest of my life. It's just a terrible thing to see," he said.

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