When most of us go to the hospital, we generally know what to expect of our surroundings once we arrive. But the USNS Comfort is changing that, because it's no ordinary hospital. Sure, it's got all the amenities of a "normal" medical facility, but there's something very special about this place — it floats.
Along with its sister ship, the Mercy, the Comfort is the largest marine hospital on the planet, certainly much larger than this tiny homemade "motorboat" that this grandpa made out of a caravan and a raft. It travels all over the world delivering medical care to those in need, and it's been a vital asset in the face of many disasters. And how cool would it be to be a patient on a floating hospital?! It just increases the chances of Captain Jack Sparrow himself climbing on and paying a visit, just like he did at this Australian children's hospital.
This ship has been around for quite a while, but its "wow" factor never diminishes with time. And if the mere existence of a massive hospital ship wasn't enough to impress you, just check out these incredible facts about the USNS Comfort! It's truly one of the most awesome hospitals in the world, and the people who work aboard it are just as incredible.
Don't forget to SHARE these impressive facts about the Comfort with everyone you know!
1. The USNS Comfort has more than 700 medical personnel, 5,000 units of blood, and 12 operating rooms.
2. The ship has nearly all the facilities of a traditional hospital, including a pharmacy, oxygen-producing plants, radiology services, and a morgue.
3. There are four water distilling plants onboard that can turn sea water into purified drinking water — up to 30,000 gallons a day!
4. Comfort is currently sailing around Central and South America and the Caribbean as part of a mission called "Continuing Promise."
5. The journey will have eleven stops and take five months. During that time, it's expected that 100,000 patients will receive medical treatment at the hands of Comfort's staff.
6. The project is expected to cost the U.S. Government around $40 million, but the relationships that are built with the nations being helped will make the cost well worth it.
7. In addition to "traditional" hospital services such as surgery and burn care, the ship also has dentistry, optometry, and physical therapy departments.
8. Treatment isn't limited to on-board services — the ship's crew also sets up temporary medical sites on shore to help reach even more patients in need.
9. In addition to overseas efforts, Comfort has also assisted countless U.S. patients in the face of national disasters. She was a major help in the days following the 9/11 attacks and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
10. Up to 1,000 bedded patients can stay in the hospital at a time.
11. Comfort is as tall as a 10-story building and nearly as long as three football fields, making its size comparable to that of many cruise ships.
12. Even the flight deck is massive — it's large enough to handle even the world's largest military helicopters.
13. The USNS Comfort has won numerous awards, including the National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Global War On Terrorism Service Medal.
Don't forget to SHARE these cool facts about the USNS Comfort with all your friends!
