Chapter 1055 1020: Squad 7

Gao Xinhua found it inconvenient to say much and patted his shoulder, earnestly saying, "Make sure to pay attention to safety and know how to adapt to circumstances."

Gao Xinhua couldn't explicitly say to protect oneself first under any circumstance, but his words already expressed this meaning. In his eyes, Xu Chunliang was like his own child. He felt gratified by Xu Chunliang's continuous maturity and both pleased and uneasy about him heading to the disaster area on the front lines.

Hu Zhengjin, the Director of the Health Bureau, was the chief commander, which didn't mean he had to personally visit the disaster area. This chief commander would sit at the rear to control the overall situation. After he delivered a brief sentiment, the seven medical teams boarded the buses and set off.

When Xu Chunliang got on the bus, he shook hands with Dean Yan Huaiyi and Secretary Sun Weimin. Zhao Feiyang either didn't see or intentionally neglected him, focusing only on talking to the medical staff from Changxing, without even glancing at Xu Chunliang. Xu Chunliang didn't care for him either, guessing that Zhao Feiyang's fortunate days wouldn't last long.

After the vehicle started, Xu Chunliang thought he should at least inform his grandfather. He originally planned to call but decided instead to send a message—Grandfather, I'm going to Juzhou for disaster relief and might take a few days to return.

Not long after, Xu Changshan replied very briefly—Await your triumphant return, proud of you.

Captain Qin Guoliang distributed clothes and backpacks to everyone, which contained emergency supplies they might need to use.

The higher-ups also assigned a guide for each medical team, serving the role of a guide and rescuer. After the bus entered the highway, their guide, Wang Wenxiang, began discussing various precautions with everyone.

Such as the measures to take in different scenarios when an earthquake occurs, and the use of various rescue equipment.

Everyone listened attentively. From Dongzhou to Juzhou is approximately 270 kilometers, and according to the original plan, each rescue team was striving to reach the disaster area within four hours to provide medical rescue action.

Xu Chunliang glanced at the time. It was now six in the morning. Due to this sudden earthquake, there were significantly fewer vehicles on the highway today. After entering Lan Ling, the highway was closed, forcing them to choose to continue on via provincial roads.

After Wang Wenxiang finished speaking, Qin Guoliang cleared his throat and said, "Let me say a few words too. Everyone has already learned from the news about the disaster in Juzhou. What I want to say is, earthquakes are heartless, but people have hearts. We pray for no more casualties and wish everything safe. Disasters are not dreadful. As long as we unite as one and work together, we can protect our compatriots and build our beautiful homeland together!"

Team members from Changxing Hospital applauded one after another, but there was no response from the Infectious Disease Hospital side. They had heard such cliches several times today, empty and useless, sounds loud like slogans but unhelpful. They preferred to save energy for use in the disaster area.

The main reason was that the leader for the Infectious Disease Hospital side was Xu Chunliang. Since Xu Chunliang didn't clap, the others were reluctant to give face to Qin Guoliang. There was still a significant sense of boundary between the two hospitals.

Xu Chunliang took a moment to call Su Qing, but her phone couldn't be reached, so he sent a text message instead, notifying her that he had joined the Dongzhou rescue medical team and was heading to Dongzhou, unsure if she could receive it.

According to the situation they currently knew, this earthquake had caused severe destruction. Many areas in Juzhou had no phone signal, and repairs were urgently underway. Although psychologically prepared for such scenarios, Xu Chunliang was still somewhat worried, primarily because Su Qing departs for Juzhou at an unfortunate time. Calculating by time, she just got caught in the second major earthquake. Unable to reach her, he could only pray for her safety.

One might say Xu Chunliang insisted on participating in the rescue team this time among the primary reasons because of Su Qing.

Qin Guoliang felt his words were quite impactful but the response from the Infectious Disease Hospital side was too cold, leading to some embarrassment. Continuing, he said, "In earthquake disaster relief, medical rescue is one of the central tasks in the initial phase. Time is life; therefore, timely, full, reasonable and efficient onsite medical rescue is critical for stabilizing the psychological state of residents in the disaster area, reducing and controlling casualties and disability rates caused by the earthquake. Maximally minimizing harm and genuinely safeguarding the fundamental interests of the people have vital importance and significance."

Standing behind the driver, Qin Guoliang held onto a steel bar with one hand and a thermos cup with the other, which lent some ceremonial feel to his speech. In fact, just now, guide Wang Wenxiang spoke in the same manner, but Wang Wenxiang stood more steadily, possibly because the road conditions were poorer on the national highway he stood on compared to the highway; therefore his body kept bumping along with the vehicle.

Wang Xiaofeng showed concern and suggested, "Dean Qin, you should sit down when speaking; it's not safe this way."

Qin Guoliang laughed and said, "No worries, the driver's skills are very reliable."

Taking a sip of water, he continued, "The basic tasks of disaster medical rescue are to urgently rush to the affected area, collaborate in searching and rescuing the injured persons, implementing patient treatment and transfer, assisting in disease prevention and control, helping damaged medical facilities in post-quake rebuild, maximally decreasing patient mortality and disability rates, increasing recovery rates, and maintaining people's health. Onsite medical rescue work marks the starting point and focal point of earthquake disaster relief, coordinated by multiple professional teams to complete together. Site emergency rescue work forms part of onsite medical rescue efforts and remains crucial for saving lives of injured and restoring their health."

Judging from his speech, Qin Guoliang has done his homework; after opening with some empty talk, he began discussing practicalities. According to his description, earthquake disaster relief can be divided into three stages from the perspective of medical rescue.

1) Disaster Critical Period: Referring to 72 hours after the earthquake, the survival rate of populations under burial decreases from 90% to 20% as time extends. This period marks the golden time for rescuing survivors trapped under rubble. Work prioritizes quake-affected residents' self-rescue and mutual rescue, along with incoming rescue forces to search and rescue survivors buried under rubble around the clock, and swiftly treating and categorizing injured survivors, transferring them.

2) Disaster Emergency Period: Spanning 3 to 14 days post-earthquake. The focus remains on establishing a three-tier treatment system on foundations of rescuing survivors under rubble: onsite medical team, frontline hospital, and rear hospital. Flooding external medical teams into various medical facilities forms regional medical equipment reserve bases and treatment bases, concentrating medical supplies and expert resources to grade-treatment large numbers of injured arising suddenly in a short time.

3) Disaster Reconstruction Period: 14 days post-earthquake. Focusing on reestablishing disaster area's medical systems on foundations of treating quake-affected patients, such as rebuilding various medical institutions, conducting health education, epidemic monitoring and prevention among others.

From initial disdain, Xu Chunliang started paying serious attention. Some first aid knowledge was unfamiliar to him, but since they all shared the same objective, they should collaborate earnestly.

After finishing, Qin Guoliang smiled at Xu Chunliang and said, "Xiaoxu, do you have anything to add?"

Xu Chunliang said, "I don't have anything to add. Since the higher-ups assigned me and Captain Qin to lead the seventh team, I want to express my stance to everyone. I'll be the first to act in the face of danger. Regardless of circumstances, I'll try my best to ensure everyone's safety. However many people left, I aim to bring back safely that many."

Xu Chunliang's sincere words provoked applause from the crowd.

Qin Guoliang felt somewhat perplexed, having spoken at length only for Xu Chunliang's one sentence to surpass his. It thus appears many people here are afraid of dying. Although rescuing is their duty, none planned to sacrifice themselves gratuitously. As a team leader, an important duty he overlooked was the one of ensuring safety, which Xu Chunliang's supplement aptly addressed.

At nine in the morning, having entered Juzhou boundaries, the roads became rugged, cracks of varying sizes emerged on the surface, rain poured heavily, prompting Qin Guoliang who had stood in place to quickly retake his seat and tightly buckled himself with a seatbelt.

Vehicle speed dropped to thirty. Wang Wenxiang sat at the passenger seat aiding the driver in navigation. Suddenly, he cautioned, "Stop the vehicle, stop, the road ahead is disrupted."

The driver stopped the bus. Wang Wenxiang descended to survey the road's conditions; ahead, two-thirds of the road had collapsed, rendering the vehicle unable to pass. The assembly point remained about three kilometers away.

Xu Chunliang donned his raincoat and alighted to join Wang Wenxiang.

Pointing to the collapsed spot, Wang Wenxiang said, "The vehicle can't pass, we need to detour," then added, "It requires taking a mountain road." Typically, after earthquakes, mountain roads carry the highest risks, with landslides and mudslides potentially occurring.

Xu Chunliang asked, "Can we detour successfully?"

Wang Wenxiang sighed, uncertain of the road conditions over there.

Holding an umbrella, Qin Guoliang joined them and said, "We have an hour left until our final assembly time. It's not far; let's walk there."

Wang Wenxiang agreed with Qin Guoliang's suggestion. The roads here were dramatically damaged. As they approach further in, conditions would undoubtedly deteriorate, hence rather than risk detouring the vehicle, branching from now on foot made more sense given they were merely three kilometers from the assembly point, likely reachable within an hour.

Wang Wenxiang didn't have high expectations for this group of medical personnel's survival skills in the wild and reiterated some precautions.

The rain was heavy, yet the seventh rescue team maintained high enthusiasm. At this moment, Qin Guoliang used the walkie-talkie to contact other medical teams, determining that they largely encountered the same situation as them; the earliest arrival medical team had already trekked into the disaster area.

Wang Wenxiang loudly asserted, "Everyone must closely follow me; don't stray from the group. I'll lead the way."

Xu Chunliang declared, "I'll cover the rear."

Wang Wenxiang took a glance at Xu Chunliang and said, "Alright, then it's decided, let's set off!"