Multiforce health agencies provide service for show

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. David P. Sever
  • 911th Aeromedical Staging Squadron
PITTSBURGH AIR RESERVE STATION, Pa --  Planes buzzing around. Hundreds of aircraft to see and hear. Paratroopers rushing towards the earth to the tune of the "Star-Spangled Banner." These are all of the featured attractions that spectators pour out to experience during any air show.
What few people realize as they are watching the Blue Angels zoom about, is the amount of hard work and dedication being done to ensure that their air show experience is a safe and healthy one.
In addition to the over 300,000 spectators who showed up for the 2006 Wings Over Pittsburgh Air Show, a select group of over 250 military, federal and local medical personnel converged on the 911th Airlift Wing, to do just that; ensure that the crowds of people remained safe, provide first-aid treatment for minor injuries, and deliver the capability to care for a multiple-casualty catastrophe in the event of a mishap.
Tucked away in Hangar 129, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel established two full-service field hospitals capable of treating everything from minor scrapes, bumps, and bruises, to full-scale medical emergencies.
The Disaster Medical Assistance Team, Pennsylvania-1 (DMAT PA-1), was the lead agency in charge of the field hospitals. Air Force pharmacy technicians and an Army pharmacist augmented the capabilities of this highly-mobile, rapidly deployable field hospital package.
In addition to the field hospitals, first aid stations, staffed by Air Force and Army personnel, were visible throughout the Air Show area and adjacent parking lots.
These first aid stations were the "First Responder" component of the joint medical operation. Also providing valuable capabilities were the local Emergency Medical Service (EMS) agencies. The EMS agencies provided the "Transportation" component, and offered rapid evacuation of those patients who exceeded the medical capabilities of the field hospitals.
DMAT PA-1 members, Allegheny County personnel, and Air Force members manned the mobile communications center, and provided centralized command, control and radio capabilities to the providers in the field, using three communications networks.
"The joint medical team provided medical care and first-aid treatment to more than seventy-five spectators, performers and vendors," said Knox Walk, commander, DMAT PA-1.
"In each case, the patients were evaluated by a military or joint medical team. When necessary, the patient was transferred by civilian EMS personnel to the DMAT PA-1 field hospital. In only five cases, the patient's condition surpassed the on-site medical capabilities, requiring EMS transport to local hospitals."
Military agencies that provided support to the joint medical team included members of the 911th Aeromedical Staging Squadron (ASTS) and Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES), 758th Airlift Squadron Medical Element and the 339th Combat Support Hospital (USAR).
The outstanding participation and cooperation between these numerous agencies is a glimpse at the concept required for Multiforce Agencies; each service will have an opportunity to experience and work with their counter part.