Photo By Staff Sgt. Melanie L. Nolen | Airmen from the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing establish a...... read more read more
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REDDING, Calif.–Airmen with the California National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing unpacked pallet-sized crates of supplies for 125 temporary medical beds at the Redding Civic Auditorium in Redding, California, April 4, 2020. Activated by Gov. Gavin Newsom due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team of 30 Airmen from the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station traveled throughout the state to assemble federal medical stations (FMS) in large buildings such as convention centers and auditoriums.
The two levels of the usually electric civic auditorium are vacant and silent, with the speakers unplugged and chairs pushed aside. As auditorium events and expos are postponed due to the coronavirus crisis, this wide-open, well-lit area remains quiet as it receives a different assignment. Now staged as an FMS with medical beds and supplies, local officials will decide how to use the auditorium if local hospitals become overwhelmed with patients during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“The plan [for this space] is for hospital overflow,” said Tech Sgt. Becky Jensen of the 146th AW, crew lead for the FMS set up team. “It depends what the local community or local government decides and how they want to utilize this space. It’s proactive and just in case it’s needed. They will decide who goes here and how they will allocate resources based on hospital needs in the local community.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, FMSs are rapidly deployable caches containing beds, supplies, and medicines which can quickly turn a pre-identified building into a temporary medical shelter during a national emergency.
Each area of the shelter, including the triage and pediatric areas, have proper bedding, blankets, pillows, a chair and a clipboard, so the nurses can look at their health status, Jensen said.
The Redding auditorium fit the minimum requirements, as outlined by the CDC, as a space with adequate square footage, loading docks, parking, sufficient existing technology support and power, support services including food and water, waste disposal, refrigeration and locked storage, bathroom and shower capabilities.
The Airmen traveled throughout the state to set up FMSs at similar sites for the past week and they know how important this mission is to the residents of California.
“It’s an honor to be here helping out people that are going to be in need of services here,” said Tech. Sgt. Mario Lopez-Casa, the crew’s first sergeant, who takes care of the travel needs of his troops in addition to setting up the stations right alongside with them. “It’s something that none of us take lightly. We all understand the importance of the mission and we are proud to be here.”
| Date Taken: | 04.04.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 04.27.2020 12:45 |
| Story ID: | 368486 |
| Location: | REDDING, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 36 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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