Andersen EMTs' training kicks in during response to B-2 crash

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Erica Stewart
  • 36th Operations Group Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFPN) --  The ambulance services unit of the 36th Medical Group here responded immediately when an emergency call came in Feb. 24 that a B-2 Spirit had crashed on the flightline.

Two pilots, from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., were forced to eject from a B-2 Spirit before impact during their last flight from the Andersen AFB flightline.

"This is the kind of situation that we train for," said Lt. Col. Robin Schultze, the 36th Medical Operations Squadron commander and chief nurse. "Based on how our emergency medical technicians responded when the B-2 stealth bomber crashed, I am confident that our training kept our EMTs safe and minimized injury to the pilots and other emergency crews."

The EMTs receive continuous on-the-job training and also engage in a variety of mass causality exercises, which helps in making emergency procedures fluid in real world situations. 

"Mass casualty exercises gives us the opportunity to practice for real-world situations, like the B-2 crash," Colonel Shultze said. "So that when an emergency call comes in the medics can be confident with their skills." 

The EMTs also receive training at the Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness skills at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. 

"We send our medics to C-STARS to hone skills," said Colonel Shultze. "This is a shock and trauma unit training that the medics have as part of continuous education."

When the EMT on duty received the call, she and the other three-member crew hopped into an ambulance and headed to the flightline.

"When we got there, all we saw was smoldering flames and a pilot lying on the ground," said Staff Sgt. Katherine Caraballo, a 36th Medical Wing Group emergency medical technician. "My first thought was to take the hazards into consideration and get clearance to enter the scene to stabilize the immobile pilot."

EMTs are taught to recognize danger before entering the scene of an accident to better treat the victim.

"One of our main goals on any incident is to stay away from danger and to approach the scene with our well-being in mind," said Tech. Sgt. Melissa Lehan, the 36th Medical Group NCO in charge of ambulance services. "If the medics are injured, then the patients don't get the care they need."

In this crisis situation, the danger was anticipated and the medic's training prevailed.

"Training is essential for things like this and we train continuously," Sergeant Lehan said. "A big incident like this is something that doesn't happen all the time, and could be something that you'll see once in your career, so being prepared to handle anything and everything is important." 

This is the first crash of a B-2, and a board of officers will fully investigate the accident, Air Force officials said.

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

View the comments/letters page