During his 13 years working with a sea rescue center, a Vietnamese general doctor has provided prompt first aid and loving care for many fishermen at sea.

Though providing first aid at sea, particularly in stormy weather, is notably more challenging than that performed on land, Dr. Tran Ngoc Quang, 52, has never become daunted.

He has been working for 13 years with SAR 412 search and rescue ship of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center Zone 2 (Da Nang MRCC).

All in a day’s work

SAR 412 received a command at 6pm to rescue a fisherman, who was writhing in pain from appendicitis.

The ship instantly headed for the sea off Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, some 470km from Da Nang coast.

A storm with strong gusts was brewing off the East Sea.

A group of Tuoi Tre (Youth) Newspaper followed Dr. Quang and his rescue team on the darting ship.

After 10 hours crossing the rough sea, the rescue ship finally approached the fishing vessel.

All its crew was helping hoist the patient, named Tran Ba Duy, into the rescue ship.

Though exhausted, Dr. Quang began his job without any delay.  

With the patient strapped tight to a stretcher, Dr. Quang gauged his blood pressure and checked his vein to inject saline and painkillers to stable his conditions.

As the ship kept tilting and rocking in the stormy weather, he had great difficulty pinpointing the patient’s vein for injection.

After the patient’s conditions stabilized, Dr. Quang always sat by the stretcher, sometimes asking him if his pain was relieved.

“Patients feel much more reassured with the presence of the medical team. Anything can happen at sea,” Dr. Quang shared.

The rescue ship docked at 8 o’clock the following morning, and the patient was instantly handed over to 115 Emergency Center, who then rushed him to a general hospital for treatment.

Only then could Dr. Quang heave a sigh of relief and head back.

According to the doctor, his unit is in charge of rescue in the central-northern region spanning from Quang Binh to Binh Dinh provinces, which has a high concentration of fishermen.

There’re one or two emergencies at sea each month, he added.

During the stormy seasons, when more fishing ships are wrecked, Dr. Quang and his team are always on call, ready to brave the weather and offer first aid at any time.

“I show up on the ships 15 minutes after receiving the command, regardless of where I am at the moment,” he added.

Almost all members of Dr. Quang’s team aren’t allowed to leave their unit, including holidays.         

Quang said though his home isn’t far from his unit, there’re times when he doesn’t see his family for one month.

He also deals with multiple calls, sometimes in the early hours, from fishermen, who need his consultancy to cope with minor injuries or ailments.

13 years ago, when Quang was working at Ngu Hanh Son District Hospital in Da Nang City, he applied for a rescue job with MRCC out of his passion for the sea.

He can’t remember how many fishermen he has helped save.

“I’m really happy with my job here. A doctor’s job is saving lives, wherever they are, but saving fishermen’s lives at sea helps me feel fulfilled,” he shared.

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