Wounded

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Timothy Elliott, 23rd Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance journeyman and simulated victim, receives treatment from a medical responder during a mass casualty exercise Sept. 23, 2011, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Mass casualty exercises test the base’s ability to respond to hazards such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

Medic on scene

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Kimberly Robinson, 23rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron flight medicine NCO in charge, prepares to treat a victim during a mass casualty exercise Sept. 23, 2011, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The exercise simulated a car bomb explosion which wounded and killed more than 20 victims. Medics were evaluated on their ability to respond, treat and stabilize patients as they would during a real-world situation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

Lift on 3

U.S. Air Force Capt. Susan Marchiano, 347th Operations Support Squadron flight surgeon, and Senior Airman Jennifer Lewis, 23rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron medical technician, lifts Senior Airman Shatavia Wallace, 824th Base Defense Squadron fireteam member, to transport on a litter during a mass casualty exercise Sept. 23, 2011, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Medics from the 23rd Wing and 93d Air Ground Operations Wing came together to participate in the exercise and treat patients. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

Searching for gear

U.S. Air Force Capt. Susan Marchiano, 347th Operations Support Squadron flight surgeon, locates equipment from a medical bag during a mass casualty exercise Sept. 23, 2011, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. At least two mass casualty exercises are performed each year to keep the base ready to respond to hazards such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

Applying a tourniquet

U.S. Air Force Capt. Susan Marchiano, 347th Operations Support Squadron flight surgeon, finishes applying an improvised tourniquet to the leg of Senior Airman Shatavia Wallace, 824th Base Defense Squadron fireteam member, during a mass casualty exercise Sept. 23, 2011, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Medics on scene categorized victims from most to least critical and treated them accordingly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

Decontamination tent

Medical personnel treat patients at a decontamination tent during a mass casualty exercise Sept. 23, 2011, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The decontamination tent was the last stop for patients before heading inside the 23rd Medical Group building to be assessed and receive more treatment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

Mass casualty exercise tests Moody first responders

Published Sept. 29, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Jarrod Grammel
23rd Wing Public Affairs

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- "If you can hear the sound of my voice, move towards me," a medical first responder said calmly as victims limp towards the medics.

This was the scene during an exercise held at Moody, Sept.23, to test the base's ability to handle a mass casualty situation.

"This exercise tests our ability to respond to any hazard we could face, such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters," said Bill Hebert, 23rd Medical Support Squadron chemical biological radiological nuclear explosives analyst. "The medics are required to go on scene and do what needs to be done.

"It's about emergency response, to treat and stabilize as many patients as we can and making sure we can handle anything that could happen," he added.

The exercise used a car bomb scenario which killed and wounded over 20 people.

"The mass casualty today simulated an explosion," said Col. Mark Koppen, 23rd Medical Group commander. "I think the initial response was outstanding. If this was a real world incident, in addition to the medical first responders, we would've had bystanders and vehicles help transport the victims and administer self aid buddy care as people around the wing have been trained."

Once the patients were stabilized, they were taken to a tent for decontamination before being taken into the medical facility for more treatment.

"The in-place patient decontamination team is run by our dental team," Koppen. "We decontaminate them, which only takes a few minutes, then get them more care inside our facility. In this event, there were no chemical or biological casualties but we set up the decontamination tents for our own practice."

As part of the exercise, the 23rd MDG had to coordinate with downtown hospitals to determine how many patients each facility could handle.

"We called the downtown facilities to tell them we were having a major exercise and asked them how many beds they had available and if they would be able to accommodate our number of patients," said Koppen.

The medics from the 23rd MDG weren't the only people involved in the exercise. Medical personnel from different units worked together to treat patients.

"This is a team approach by all medical personnel on Moody," said Lt. Col. Dave Blocker, 23rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander. "We have medics from the 23rd Fighter Group, 347th Rescue Group and the 93d Air Ground Operations Wing supporting this exercise. I am happy to see that we are all able to work together and treat our patients."

This exercise, and ones like it, help the 23rd MDG stay prepared for any situation that they may be needed for.

"As the 23rd MDG commander, I have been incredibly proud of our dedicated Airmen and civilians," said Koppen. "Our teams are always ready to respond in any contingency and this is another demonstration of what we do to support not only peace and wartime deployments but contingency operations as they happen at any time of the day or night."