Misawa partners with city for disaster exercise

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Allison Day
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (AFPN) --  Emergency responders from the city of Misawa and Misawa Air Base came to the rescue to a simulated earthquake in Misawa City Oct. 14.

The Disaster Preparation Exercise held at the Ice Arena in Misawa City prepared first responders in the city and on the base in the event of an actual earthquake.

Airmen from the 35th Medical Group had a key role in the exercise.

"We took part in the exercise by preparing the 'casualties' and providing primary medical response," said Lt. Col. Yolanda Bledsoe, the 35th Medical Operations Squadron commander.

To assist with this part of the exercise, the hospital's moulage team prepared 30 casualties.

"They do a phenomenal job preparing realistic casualties," Colonel Bledsoe said. "Their work adds an element of realism to the exercise scenario, which helps our medical personnel to quickly respond and to accurately treat patients."

In addition, the hospital provided ambulance and primary response support for injured patients.

"It is important for us to participate in this exercise for several reasons, but the two most important reasons are joint exercises of this nature gives all agencies a chance to collaborate and plan events and hone our joint capabilities while responding to a mass casualty scenario," Colonel Bledsoe said. "And secondly they allow us an opportunity to learn from each other and to integrate our medical response capabilities, while at the same time we're able to foster our relationship with our host nation."

This exercise happens yearly, but it is the first time in several years that the hospital staff was invited to participate by Misawa City officials.

"To prepare for the event, we work with our Japanese Air Self Defense Force counterparts every year during our Mass Casualty Readiness Exercise and most recently during the (base's air show)," Colonel Bledsoe said.

For operations to run smoothly, hospital officials here have created a form to process patients.

"It's a bilingual triage patient intake form," Colonel Bledsoe said. "The form allows both medical teams (Japanese and American) to have a user-friendly way to assess and provide treatment for our patients."

Any language barrier is not a problem for these professionals who took the time to attend meetings with Misawa City officials during the planning phase of the exercise. 

"Planning and preparation were the keys to the success of this exercise," Colonel Bledsoe said. "A natural disaster can happen at any time and place. In fact, southern Japan just recently suffered the fatal effects of an earthquake, so it was a very timely exercise scenario for us and we were fortunate to work with our local host nation before we actually experience an earthquake. Training and working together like we did mean that when and if it happens, we are ready!"

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