Bagram Airmen fly outside the box Published April 21, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. James Law 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) -- The job of locating and returning servicemembers throughout the area of responsibility has taken a back seat for Airmen of the 305th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron here who now help save lives. Bagram Air Base Airmen provide aeromedical evacuation with their HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters for injured International Security Assistance Force soldiers and local nationals, which is outside their traditional combat search and rescue duties. Since January, members of the rescue squadron to including the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron are credited with executing more than 250 combat sorties, flying more than 260 hours while providing medevac coverage that saved 106 coalition lives. Since deploying here in mid-March, Airmen of the 305th ERQS have completed 51 missions, provided overhead cover for 23 missions, and executed 14 transports with injuries involving life, limb or eye and 14 transports with injuries other than life, limb or eye. The HH-60Gs are equipped with forward looking infrared, which is a system that provides the ability to conduct operations at night and during periods of low illumination. This capability allows the unit to shift roles during night operations and become the primary mode of transportation with an AH-64 Apache helicopter as its escort, said Lt. Col. Brett Howard, the 305th ERQS medevac operations deputy director. "We may get a patient who has received battle field dressing treatment or maybe somebody who has been packaged up at one of the (forward operating bases) that does not have the same level of treatment and care as what's available at Kandahar," Colonel Howard said. There is no discrimination between patients. Everyone treated is provided the same level of care. During a recent medevac of an Afghan national police officer who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, basic first aid was administered in the field to include splinting his legs for stabilization, said Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Everly, a 305th ERQS flight medic. "When we got him I started an IV and continued medical care preparing him for the receiving facility here," Sergeant Everly said. Sergeant Everly said forces in the field face challenges when administering medical care to wounded members. "Their hands are tied because of whatever operations are going on (and) any bad guys in the area," Sergeant Everly said. "Once we get in the air and out of the area, we have the opportunity to do a little bit more." Aeromedical staging operations are a critical feature of airpower in the area of responsibility. If a wounded patient is alive upon arrival at an Air Force theater hospital, he or she has a 98 percent chance of survival. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page