Aeromedical members complete exercise flying on C-130

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nicole Talbert
  • 445th Airlift Wing
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio --  A Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) composed of five members of the 445th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, along with members of the 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron completed a joint training exercise January 8 here while flying a C-130 from the 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio.

Maj.Judy Uzell, of the 445th AES, was the mission crew coordinator in charge of creating scenarios for seven AES fliers during this training mission.

The exercise simulated configuring the aircraft and preparing it for flight with engines off, approximately one and a half hours of in-flight training enacting different scenarios as well as providing medical care to patients, and an engine running off load.

“We complete an exercise like this one at least every UTA,” said Maj. Jeanne LaFountain from the 445th AES. “Since we don’t fly the ‘141s’ anymore, we train whenever we have an aircraft available.”

During the preflight activities and prior to a 9:30 a.m. take off, medical crew director 1st Lt. Marlo Foster, of the 445th AES, led the preflight briefing, reviewing each member’s job, the status of the patients and what medical needs were required, as well as emergency procedures.

Once the crew was transported to the flightline by bus and waiting to on load the aircraft, Maj. Todd Mulhorn of the 445th AES gave instruction for everyone to get in place and prepare for the C-130 landing. “The wing tip just came in,” said Maj. Mulhorn. The major continue to instruct the crew for on loading the patients and equipment.

After the aircraft took off, the CCAT team and the AES crew began providing medical care for three lifelike mannequin patients and four other patients who are 445th AES fliers. The patients were given the following care: IVs and administered drugs, aid in maintaining airways, shock and bleeding control, and dressing management.

One of the in flight scenarios Maj. Uzell created for the exercise was having the crew respond to a schizophrenic patient, Maj. LaFountain, and putting her in restraints. The crew also had to respond to patient Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Rang, of the 445th AES, going into cardiac arrest.

Staff Sgt. Patrick McCoy and Senior Airman Brandi Miller, also of the 445th AES, were other patients onboard who required medical attention.

Providing care for all these patients and responding to various scenarios forced these aeromedical members to react quickly as if they were responding to real-world emergency situations.

The exercise also involved the aeromedical team responding to a rapid decompression of the aircraft. Each member immediately placed quick don masks on, which provides 100% oxygen from a bottle until the aircraft reaches an altitude where one can breathe.

The CCAT team provided medical care to two patients on vents. Both had belly surgery, and required chest tubes. One of these patients was also an amputee of an upper extremity.

Exercises such as this one, keeps AES ready for activation in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Currently 50 members of the 445th AES are activated throughout various locations.