Transit Center introduces Kyrgyz military to aeromedical evacuations

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rachel Martinez
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) --  Transit Center at Manas medical professionals meet weekly with their counterparts in the Kyrgyz military for the purpose of exchanging information on processes and sharing common terminology.
At the request of the Kyrgyz Republic, the most recent military exchange introduced several Kyrgyz military members to the process of conducting aeromedical evacuations.

The meeting began with an overview of the beginning of flight medicine, followed by a presentation on the stressors of flight on the human body.

Following the classroom presentation, participants took part in hands-on assessment and preparation of a simulated patient to be evacuated for further medical treatment.

"It was very interesting because we have not experienced evacuation by plane or helicopter," said Kyrgyz Republic Col. Abakir Abdurahmanov, deputy commander of the Bishkek military hospital. "A lot of the information was new for us; now we have some knowledge of aerospace medicine."

For Lt. Col. (Dr.) Robert Lehman, 376th Expeditionary Medical Group flight surgeon, military medical exchanges such as this one do more than just share information; the exchanges are the first step in building stronger relationships.

"I love having a chance to talk to other cultures and learn their way of life and way of doing things," said Lehman. "This is just the first step. We never know where these things will lead us."

Medical exchanges will continue to be held on a weekly basis, with a plan to cover aeromedical evacuation topics monthly.

"There is always more to know," said Abdurahmanov.