D-M and Tucson team up for emergency management exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman Saphfire D. Cook
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz., --  Airmen from the 355th Medical Group and civilian medical personnel from Tucson participated in the National Disaster Medical Systems Exercise Nov. 04 on the Snowbird ramp.

The NDMSE is designed to test the ability of military and civilian medical groups to work together to receive casualties, provide triage, and transport patients to area hospitals.

"During a crisis D-M and community first responders and medical personnel will have to be able to work together efficiently," said Col. John Cherrey, 355th Fighter Wing commander. "Conducting this exercise reinforces our partnership with the community and ensures we're well-prepared to minimize loss of life and property in an emergency."

Participants in this exercise included the 355th MG, D-M's fire and emergency services flight, the Tucson Police Department and Pima County Sheriff's Department.

"What we are doing today is rehearsing how we would help off-base facilities to get patients from the aircrafts, through the triage areas, and then transported to facilities out in town," said Senior Airman Tiffany D. Graham, the 355th Medical Operations Squadron unit deployment manager for medical readiness.

Airmen from D-M volunteered as patients returning from Afghanistan and civilians involved in a recent disaster.

After medical personnel secured patients onto gurneys, they were transported to triage for simulated emergency medical care. Then they were loaded into ambulances for transport to medical facilities off base.

"If a national disaster were to occur, and patients had to be transported into Tucson for medical attention, Davis-Monthan would be a big part of that," said Lt. Col. Kristen E. Taleck, an exercise evaluator. "This exercise is a very important part of our training."