Flying the wounded home

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Anthony Iusi
  • 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KABUL, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  Afghan airmen and NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan advisers worked as one to transfer a patient from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, during a reverse aeromedical evacuation mission to Forward Operating Base Bostic in Konar province, Afghanistan Sept. 27.

A reverse medical evacuation takes a patient who has received care from local hospitals and returns them to their homes. While this is not a new mission for the Afghan flight medics and their NATC-A advisers, officials said the continued training of Afghan air force members by the 438th Air Expeditionary Adviser Squadron helps this partnership continue to grow.

"The purpose of this mission not only helped a nine-year old boy return home, but also helped with teaching the Afghan medics what to watch out for during flight -- things like how to take care of the patient and how to watch out for physical signs of flight stress," said Tech Sgt. Derek Odom, a 438th AEAS flight medic adviser.

Members from Bagram Airfield's medical hospital transported the patient on a gurney to the airfield ramp once the crew of the Mi-17 Hip transport helicopter arrived from Kabul and turned him over to the Afghan medic and Airman adviser who then evaluated the patient to ensure he was fit for flight. The medics then transferred the patient to the helicopter, and the Afghan medic continued to treat the patient under close watch by his Airman mentor.

"He did a pretty good job," Sergeant Odom said. "He pretty much knows what's going on with the patient and knew how to take care of him. We just need to get into a little bit deeper into patient care during flight and teach him what signs and symptoms to watch out for and how he is going to react to those with his gear."

After the patient was loaded, he was transported to Camp Bostic, where he will receive local care before being released home to his family.

"There are several reasons why this type of mission is important," said Capt. Sean Masters, a 438th AEAS Mi-17 adviser. "First off, the counter insurgency that we're currently fighting shows the people of Afghanistan that the U.S. government and the Islamic government of Afghanistan actually care about them. It also shows that we're providing medical attention for their people and transporting them to their homes shows them that we are travelling around all over this country in difficult areas, so we can get them there and back."