Brooks training program integrates medical processes

Published March 5, 2007
By 2nd Lt. Tania Bryan
311th Human Systems Wing Public Affairs

BROOKS CITY-BASE, Texas -- The U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine here has established a realistic, in-depth training program that marries up two processes to provide essential training to medics who, in many cases, are deployed and doing this very same mission within one to two months.

The program ties Expeditionary Medical Support training with Critical Care Air Transport Team training.

"The integration allows for a direct interface between the two programs," said Lt. Col. Stephen Fecura, Critical Care Air Transport Team course director. "The hands-on training provided here is invaluable."

Capt. Steven Keifer, Public Health officer, emphasized another important reason for people to get this training.

"If we can get them (the injured) from the field to an Expeditionary Medical Support facility, there is an 96 percent survival rate," Captain Keifer said.

Expeditionary Medical Support personnel retrieve the simulated casualties from the field, treat and stabilize their injuries. Upon arrival, the Critical Care Air Transport Team receives a patient report from Expeditionary Medical Support members. The Critical Care Air Transport Team also receives all patient records so there is no duplication and there is a seamless transition of care. Patients are then transported and loaded onto a C-130 simulator that imitates the flight back to Landstuhl, Germany, or the United States.

The wounds the simulated patients display accurately mimic the injuries seen on the battlefield. In addition to human volunteers, human simulators are also used as patients. These computerized mannequins breath, blink and react like live humans. Instructors can program the mannequins to become unstable, testing the skills of trainees.

Now, more than in any other conflict, wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines are making it out of the area of responsibility alive, said Col. James King. He is medical director and chief of the aeromedical evacuation branch at U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine.

"We have a highly skilled aerovac community that can move those critically injured patients through the continuum of care very rapidly so that they can get the care that they need," Colonel King said. "For many, from the time of their injury to the time they get back to the states is 48-72 hours. Aeromedical evacuation in general, and Critical Care Air Transport Team in particular, has made huge contributions to the medical care we deliver to our fallen warriors. It's a really great feeling to be able to contribute to such a successful effort in support of the war on terror."

"With what we do in the Expeditionary Medical Support system and what the Critical Care Air Transport Team does in the air, we are saving lives that in the past could not be saved," added Captain Keifer.