News

Aeromedical evacuation Airmen train for mass casualties

  • Published
  • By Airman First Class Patrick Cabellon
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron here assisted with the exercise Arctic Spring, June 3. The exercise assesses procedures and communications between organizations in preparation for mass-movement of inbound patients in the aftermath of a large natural disaster. 

Participants in the exercise included Washington state and federal aid agencies, the 446th Airlift Wing, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., and Fort Lewis, Wash. 

"It is always beneficial for the AES to work with other agencies so we can share concepts and practices," said Senior Master Sgt. Saudi McVea, superintendent, standardization and evaluation, with the 446th AES. 

In the event of a natural disaster, the 446th AES team would provide care in flight to the sick and injured and direct all patient movement in and around the aircraft, said Sergeant McVea. 

"Care on the aircraft could be as simple as talking and offering assurance, or as serious as performing life-saving measures. Once the patients leave the flightline and are delivered to the triage area, our role ends." 

For this exercise, the 446th AES offloaded patients from a C-17, to the Troop Holding area where Soldiers stood by to receive the patients. The offload is the first of five steps to care in a mass casualty situation. Patients then go through the second step, a triage. 

For triage, the injured are categorized using a simple color-coded system. Once coded, the patients move on to the third step of the process, where they are treated for their injuries. 

From here the decision is made whether or not the patient requires further treatment. If a patient does require the attention of a better-equipped and well-staffed hospital, he is moved to the fifth step of patient flow - ambulatory transport to a hospital located in Thurston, King, and Pierce counties. 

Military hospitals such as Fort Lewis' Madigan Army Medical Center would not be used if such an event were to occur, said Army Lt. Col. Darrell Small, Deputy of Puget Sound Federal Coordinating Center. "Military hospitals are for the use of military personnel. (Civilian) hospitals, where patients would be transported, will have beds ready in case of a disaster." 

Soldiers from Fort Lewis were scheduled to be trained on proper litter movement during the exercise with the 446th AES Airmen. However, the Soldiers did not make it to the exercise. Instead students from Lakes High School JROTC, Lakewood, Wash., stepped in to serve as patients and learn about patient off-loading from the aircraft. 

Although the slated "in time training" with the Soldiers did not take place, "Arctic Spring" was a chance for 446th AES Airmen, as well as the 446th AES Rodeo team, to practice aspects of their job. 

"The exercise was helpful for the 446 AES Rodeo team," said Capt. Joseph Foss, a 446th AES Rodeo team member. "It provided us with a valuable opportunity to configure the C-17 for air evacuation multiple times in a row. It also allowed us to practice offloading patients." 

Preparing for an aeromedical evacuation mission is done by setting up litter stanchions, loading and securing medical equipment and supplies, and affixing electrical and therapeutic oxygen. 

The lessons learned from the exercise will give Team McChord, and more specifically, the 446th AES, the ability to adapt to real world operations. The exercise also gave insight into inter-agency procedure and joint-tasking in case of a mass casualty emergency. 

"Truly (the 446th AES's) role couldn't be more honorable and we are lucky to have chances to train so we are prepared to respond correctly when the real thing happens," said Sergeant McVea.