23rd MDG staff practice life-saving capabilities during AHRT exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Frances Locquiao
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The 23rd Medical Group recently participated in an exercise that tested their life-saving capabilities should there ever be a chemical explosion with mass casualties.

The All-Hazards Response Training exercise Jan. 20-22 was designed to test all aspects of Moody's Force Incident Management System responses to mass casualty and pandemic events, said Major Eric Grace, 23rd Wing Plans and Programs chief of inspections.

"It gives medical personnel a chance to work together, talk through scenarios and exercise response to a number of mass casualty events that could theoretically happen here," he said. "In addition, we can identify some new lessons that are unique to Moody and the surrounding area of Valdosta."

The three-day exercise also provided a training opportunity for medical Exercise Evaluation Team members.

"The training allowed EET members to break down sections of the exercise so they could observe specific tasks that need to be accomplished," said Bill Hebert, 23rd MDG medical readiness planner. "They were able to see strengths and weaknesses allowing them to provide feedback to help the medical personnel enhance operations."
The first two days of the exercise consisted of two tabletop seminars, where leadership discussed responses to different scenarios.

The tabletop scenarios focused on base agency responses to a base explosion of a chemical weapon of mass destruction and a worldwide pandemic influenza scenario that affects the local Valdosta area.

For the last day of training, there was a hands-on exercise, which incorporated the efforts from the entire medical group.

Before the exercise began, volunteers from around the base were transformed using moulage, make-up applied to simulate injuries, as well as clothing and accessories provided to simulate victims.

Colored make-up, bubble wrap, simulation wax and powdered simulation blood were some of the items used for lacerations, burns, blisters and inhalation injuries for the exercise.

"Moulage allows for a realistic spin on simulated injuries," said Mark Soliz, 23rd MDG education manager. "Instead of victims acting out an injury, medical personnel can actually see their wounds and blood, which enable them to provide realistic treatment."
The exercise began once a "Code Orange" was announced throughout the 23rd MDG clinic. Four groups immediately assembled to include a triage team, a medical control center, a manpower and security team and an in-place portable patient decontamination team.

The manpower and security team screened all patients that arrived, while the triage team made an initial patient assessment of their current health condition.

The decontamination team assembled a washing tent within the first 30 minutes from notification. If patients are contaminated, they must undergo decontamination before being allowed entry into the medical facility to receive treatment.

Tech. Sgt. Glen Vetrano, 822nd Security Forces Squadron squad leader, played the role of a chemical blast victim and had to process through the patient decontamination area.

"The exercise was well coordinated and very realistic," said Sergeant Vetrano. "Medics were able to have hands-on participation and practice their skills on us and the mannequins."

The final exercise scenario included a mock press conference where members of the 23rd MDG leadership answered questions presented by the 23rd Wing Public Affairs office, who role-played local and national media.

"Overall, we learned numerous lessons from this training exercise," said Mr. Hebert. "We've designated Friday as a training day to hone our skills. As long as we continue to learn, I have no doubt the 23rd MDG will be able to handle anything that happens."