SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The 20th Medical Group conducted exercise Ready Eagle, May 27.
Ready Eagle challenged Shaw medics to treat simulated explosion victims across multiple sites.
“Ready Eagle offered a great opportunity for our medics to learn how different contingency response teams come together in an emergency situation,” said Col. Laura Baugh, 20th MDG commander. “The training and capstone exercise allowed our medics to refine their technical skills and communication within and amongst teams, ensuring comprehensive mission readiness for home station response, as well as contingencies abroad.”
In the exercise field response area, medics had to quickly and effectively assess the injuries of patients and prioritize the most severe. Airmen bandaged wounds, collected patient information and carefully moved immobile patients on a litter to a simulated ambulance area.
“We’re exercising our mass casualty response as part of the field response team,” said Tech. Sgt. Chance Shaw, 20th MDG noncommissioned officer in charge of emergency medical services. “We also had to respond to the aftermath at the clinic, which is decontamination, patient triage and more advanced care.”
Ready Eagle emphasized secondary treatment before patients went into the hospital. Medics trained on how to correctly utilize decontamination showers and receive patients from the field response area.
“The exercise situation was an explosion that had the possibility of contaminates,” said Shaw. “It was vital to be able to exercise how to spot possible contamination in patients and how to properly decontaminate them before they reach the hospital to avoid contaminating other patients and clinic staff and equipment.”
The 20th MDG plans to continue realistic training such as Ready Eagle to stay mission ready for any situation.
“Our Weasel Medics play a key role in support of the 20th Fighter Wing mission,” said Baugh. “Today, we enhanced the skills necessary to keep Team Shaw safe at home and ready to deploy anywhere, anytime.”