U.S., African forces participate in medical exercise

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Justin Weaver
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
BAMAKO, Mali (AFPN) --  Malian medics, doctors and nurses put their skills to the test during a mass casualty exercise July 18, which kicked off in the village of Kati, Mali.

Medics received a call July 18 of a bus crash -- with an actual bus and a vehicle on its side, blocking a roundabout. Patients were moulaged and strewn across the scene to provide a more realistic training scenario for the medics, who responded within minutes.

Due to a limited number of ambulances in Mali, vans and trucks were also used to help transport the victims. The Malian medical team was evaluated on proper triage of patients, litter techniques and transportation of the victims to the hospital, while senior government officials looked on.

The mass casualty scenario is part of MEDFLAG 08, a multi-national medical training exercise designed to enhance medical capabilities and readiness for U.S. and African forces. More than 90 servicemembers deployed to Mali for the two-week long exercise.
"MEDFLAG 08 provides an excellent opportunity for the U.S. to work side-by-side with our Malian medics," said Col. (Dr.) Schuyler Geller, the Africa Command surgeon general. "This mass casualty exercise helped train the Malians on pre-hospital care and I hope it will help the medics in the future should they face this type of situation."

Throughout the week leading up to the exercise, U.S. servicemembers trained medics and doctors on proper litter carry techniques, patient evaluation and triage procedures.
"The hands-on training was the most enjoyable," said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Joseph Connolly, chief of aerospace medicine from Aviano Air Base, Italy. "We gave the medics test cases and everyone got to share their opinions on what they thought the problems were and how to solve it."

The mass casualty scenario we setup was a very realistic problem Malians face here, said Colonel Connolly.

With only a limited number of ambulances and virtually no training on mass casualty accidents, Malian medics were excited to learn proper pre-hospital care.

"From the classroom training to the mass casualty exercise, the Malians did great," Colonel Connolly said. "The friendships we are building and the satisfaction of working with competent individuals has made this exercise worthwhile."

Colonel Geller said he was pleased to see the turnout and support of the Prime Minister of Mali, Modibo Sidibe, and other high-ranking Malian officials for the mass casualty exercise.

"Our interactions with the Malian government and medics have been a win-win situation," Colonel Geller said. "Exercises like MEDFLAG 08 help improve the security and stability of Mali and enforce AFRICOMs focus of 'Add value and do no harm.'"

MEDFLAG 08 is the largest annual medical exercise in Africa. The U.S. Africa Command began initial operations in October 2007 and is scheduled to become an independent unified command by October 1. 

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