Photo By Tech. Sgt. Michelle Larche | 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron technicians, perform pre-flight...... read more read more
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Editor's note: This is part 1 of a 2-part mission feature. Part 2 is scheduled to publish March 28.
SOUTHWEST ASIA -- When service members in the CENTCOM area of responsibility need medical treatment not available at their immediate location, it's Airmen like those serving at the 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron here who are called upon to fulfill their motto, "Airlifting Wounded Warriors," moving the sick and wounded to a facility where they can get the care they need.
"On average, we move about 150 patients and fly nearly 20 missions each month," said Lt. Col. Juliette Robinson, 379th EAES Aeromedical Evacuation Operations Team flight commander. "Patient injuries range from minor to those requiring critical care."
While airlifting patients for whatever medical care they need is the heart of what the squadron does, the amount of behind-the-scenes work that goes into ensuring patient airlift is done properly is something many may take for granted.
"Moving patients is what we focus on, but there are a lot of parts at work before that event can occur. It takes a whole lot of people to make patient movement happen," said Robinson. "Our squadron is comprised of flight nurses, aeromedical evacuation technicians, medical administrative officers, office administrative staff, logistics personnel, communications and squadron aviation resource management personnel.
"We are truly a 'Total Force' in action," she added.
The squadron, an amalgamation of eight different units, brings together active-duty, Air National Guard and Reserve Airmen.
"From this, we gain the advantage of seeing how different units get the same mission done," she explained. "Everyone brings something to the table and we leverage our capabilities by embracing the best everyone has to offer. It helps us do a great job here and it's one of the best things about doing this job."
Upon tasking from higher headquarters, the admixture of Airmen gets to work preparing for a flight.
"Taskings come to the aeromedical evacuation operations team from the Combined Air Operations Center. A tasking will be either a routine mission, which comes to us one day prior, or it'll be an alert mission," she explained. "With an alert mission, time is of the essence — we have a small amount of time to get the medical crew launched."
The information the AEOT staff gets from the CAOC also includes which aircraft the medical crew will fly on — usually a C-130, C-17, C-21 or a KC-135, along with other mission-related details, such as destination and number of stops. Confirmed patient information is also provided, including the number of patients, their ages, diagnoses, patient category, oxygen requirements and special medical equipment relevant to the needs of the patients, she added.
With this comprehensive information in hand, the AEOT staff runs down the checklist appropriate to the mission at hand, coordinating the various steps required to ensure the medical aircrew is adequately equipped for the flight.
"The AEOT staff determines the alert time for the aeromedical evacuation crew — usually two flight nurses and three medical technicians, based on aircraft take-off time. If the patient's condition necessitates, the AEOT staff will also alert a critical care air transport team that consists of a doctor, a critical care nurse and a respiratory technician," Robinson added.
The medical aircrew, once alerted for a mission, has 30 minutes to arrive to the squadron where they proceed with their medical equipment pre-flight operations and calibrations checks, intelligence and patient briefings in preparation for flight.
"After the medical crew completes the equipment checks, the AEOT staff collects the equipment and takes it to customs," the colonel said. "All medical equipment must be immigrated in and emigrated out of the county for each mission. This is unique to our operations here."
Upon arriving at the assigned aircraft, the AEOT staff stands by for the loadmaster to clear the plane for them to board. Once they get the "ok," the AEOT staff configures the aircraft cabin to accommodate patient needs, then brings the equipment on board to set up the "airborne hospital."
"We set up the aircraft to safely hold patients and all of the equipment needed to support them and the medical aircrew throughout the flight," said Senior Airman Crystal Tucker, 379th EAES aeromedical evacuation technician. "We also set up the electrical and patient oxygen systems."
The equipment set-up on board the aircraft ranges from heart monitors and suction units, to comfort items such as blankets, as well as food and water for both patients and medical aircrew.
As the AEOT staff completes set-up of the aircraft, the medical aircrew arrives, boards and performs a final medical equipment check. The medical aircrew also checks their survival equipment before proceeding to patient loading.
"As the charge medical technician, I'm responsible for ensuring the aircraft is acceptable, the configuration is right, all the patient and medical aircrew's oxygen and equipment checks are done, and everyone and everything is ready for patients to be loaded," said Tech. Sgt. Andrew Schauble, 379th EAES charge medical technician.
After the aircrew's final checks are completed, the AEOT staff stands by to provide any last-minute assistance. Upon aircraft acceptance from the charge medical technician, the medical crew director takes position on the aircraft ramp and gives the "thumb's up" signal to load patients. At this point, take-off is near.
"Of course, things are always subject to change at any point during a mission," said Schauble. "We adjust to meet patient needs."
Robinson echoed the sentiment.
"Flexibility is the key to aeromedical evacuation," she said. "No one can predict when the need for patient transport will arise. When it does, our people are ready — 24/7. We're proud of what our personnel do and the professionalism they display while getting the mission done."
| Date Taken: | 03.21.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2010 01:54 |
| Story ID: | 46954 |
| Location: | SOUTHWEST ASIA |
| Web Views: | 372 |
| Downloads: | 244 |
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