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20th MDG heightens training during disaster exercise

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  • By Airman 1st Class Jonathan Bass
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The 20th Medical Group conducted an internal Major Accident Response Exercise today, putting the entire unit on high alert to test their ability to handle casualties.

The training scenario consisted of an initial five people from the 20th Dental Squadron being triaged and transported to Tuomey Regional Medical Center in Sumter, S.C., due to eating contaminated food, followed by another 10 people who were sent through an on-site decontamination and triage station after being exposed to an unknown poison.

The 20th MDG holds Major Accident Response Exercises such as these at different times throughout each year to stay in compliance with their Air Force Instruction and more importantly to always be ready for any real world situation that may occur.

After the 'patients' self-presented to the clinic, the task of decontaminating, triaging, and healing began, said Lt. Col. Jennifer Garrison, 20th MDG administrator.

Garrison led the exercise as the medical group's wing inspection team chief.

"All the disaster teams get involved, and the medical control center functioned as the central hub of all the disaster teams," said Garrison.

The MCC is where all information regarding the disaster gets sent, then disseminated, Garrison continued.

The 20th Aerospace Medicine Squadron led the charge at the in-place patient decontamination center, where Airmen hosed down and scrubbed 'patients' clean of any contaminants.

"IPPD has to set up within 20 minutes," exclaimed Garrison. "And they did it, they met the timeline."

From there 'patients' were sent to triage to determine their level of necessary treatment.

"Being an exercise 'patient' was great," said Staff Sgt. James Springer, 20th Medical Operations Squadron alcohol, drug, abuse, prevention, and treatment NCO in charge. "That in itself was exciting to me."

After triage, 'patients' were sent to be checked out by a physician as well as mental health to determine their resiliency.

"In the end it was a great experience being involved," said Springer. "I'm grateful to the excellent care that the medics of the 20th MDG provided."

The 20th MDG will be holding another exercise later this year to continue their training and ensure their ability to handle a disaster.