First responder teams pivotal for survival

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rey Ramon
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Firefighters and medics responded to a simulated mishap involving a Kadena-based KC-135 Stratotanker on the flightline here May 12. 

"This emergency management exercise plays a big part for the first responder teams' ability to treat and save victims," said Master Sgt. Timothy Winans, 18th Wing superintendent of inspections. 

Every scenario the first responders go through is integral in their proficiency to emergency responses by testing emergency base plans and procedures, said Sergeant Winans. This reveals the strengths and weaknesses in preparation for real events, he added. 

The Kadena fire department was the first responder to the scene. The firefighters divided into two teams after assessing the simulated collision. One team extracted the three individuals from a burning vehicle that was struck by the aircraft and the other team removed five injured Airmen from the air refueler. 

A field treatment team of medics arrived minutes after the fire department and began working on the scene. They assessed the situation and determined which of the patients needed immediate care for triage and which patients needed minimal attention. 

"This exercise allowed us to run scenarios that provide very realistic training," said Maj. Matthew Malan, 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron flight surgeon. "We learn to categorize our patients needing critical care to survive as we transport them to a more advanced medical facility." 

In the end, the KC-135 aircrew and the individuals from the vehicle were rescued, taken to a medical facility, and the fire extinguished. From training scenarios like this, each team hones their critical skills and maintains their annual training requirements. 

The squadrons participating in this exercise were the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department and explosive ordnance disposal flight, 18th Security Forces, 18th Medical Group, 18th Wing Public Affairs, command post, and Safety, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 18th Force Support Squadron mortuary affairs.