Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron train to provide care skyward

by Staff Sgt. Julianne M. Showalter
145th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

2/19/2015 - CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As a new year begins, a new training cycle begins and the 156th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron wasted no time recently getting their Airmen skyward to meet requirements and pass standards.

The January 2015 flight consisted of two rotations of training with the crew switching from being patients to acting as medical technicians.

"The mission today was very busy," said Maj. Paul Sanford, a flight nurse with the 156th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, who held the role of an evaluator during the flight. "It was different than we expected. We met the requirements, adjusted when we needed to and it was successful. Lots of people completed training today."

The squadron has the ability to create an intensive care unit in the sky, transporting patients globally on Air Force platforms such as C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft and C-130 Hercules aircraft.

"We had some minor hiccups, but that's exactly why we train to see what things can go wrong and correct them," said Master Sgt. Diego Santos, 156th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, who is responsible for giving the scenarios relating to aircraft emergencies and patient ailments as the mission clinical coordinator.

The scenario on the C-130 was to move ten patients in need of life-saving care from Landstuhl Medical Center, Germany, to Malcolm Grove Medical Center, Maryland.

The mock patient maladies ranged from heart failure to intestinal bleeding. Loss of cabin pressurization and warning lights were some of the aircraft emergency simulations during the flight. The Airmen must balance these scenarios while providing care to patients.

"They did great; one of the challenges is using the Air Force procedures onboard," Sanford said. "Doing medical treatment in a hospital is different than on an aircraft."

Performing these aeromedical tasks is what separates these technicians from the ones seen at a clinic.

"We want to train people so they're doing one thing but thinking two steps ahead of themselves," said Santos. "That way there's no hesitation and better situational awareness."

The 156th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron carries out their mission with the goal of excellence and ensuring every Airman receives the very best care possible.