Airmen help provide aeromedical evacuation Libyan freedom fighters

  • Published
  • By U.S. Army Pvt. Richard Bartell
  • U.S. Army Africa Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) --  A team of 18 Airmen is preparing to evacuate 26 seriously wounded Libyan fighters to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston and four critical cases to Germany for immediate care.

The team consists of eight Airmen from the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and 10 from 10th Air Force.

Capt. Jennifer Lewis, an air evacuation nurse, said the medical team is experienced in critical patient care under pressure.

"There is a lot of experience on the team with several missions to Iraq and Afghanistan," Lewis said. "We work quickly and efficiently with flexibility so that we can ensure the best patient care in the air. With some patients, every second counts," she said.

Before the mission, the team spent several hours checking the medical equipment and supplies.

Capt. Emily Jarding explained how time was a factor in critical patient care during an air evacuation mission.

"We check all our equipment on the ground multiple times to ensure it's at 100 percent," Jarding said. "Lives depend on our ability to react quickly and efficiently when we are transporting our patients, and sometimes, seconds count."

Within four hours of being alerted, the team can be wheels up and heading to a medical evacuation mission in Europe, Southwest Asia or Africa.

"We understand how critical timing can be, and our goal is to be waiting for the aircraft and not the other way around," Lewis said.

Tech. Sgt. Owen Barr, a 12-year veteran, explained the team's mission in direct terms.

"We will take care of our patients to make sure they can receive continued care," Barr said. "Our method is working flexibly with positive execution. We call it 'flexicution.'"