'Incredibles' respond to injuries at a moment's notice

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Cassandra Locke
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  A 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Critical Care Air Transport Team responded to two Soldiers who were critically injured by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.

The team that responded is known as the "Incredibles." The "Incredibles" are the first team from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to deploy a second time with the same team members.
 
The team picked the burn patients up at Balad Air Base, Iraq, on a C-130 Hercules, transferred to a C-17 Globemaster III and headed to Germany to get the patients further care. 

An expeditionary aeromedical evacuation team usually consists of two flight nurses and three medical technicians.  When a higher level of care is required, then a CCATT is added to the mission.  That team comprises a doctor, a critical care nurse and a respiratory technician all specialized in providing care to those patients with more severe injuries 

A CCATT supports an EAE team with their patient's medication, physician orders and patient emergencies. The missions of the two teams are different, but functionally support each other.

"Unfortunately, there are situations in which a person has sustained irreversible and lethal traumatic injuries and our job is to get them to Germany so family can be by their side," said Staff Sgt. Kristina Vensel, a 379th EAES CCATT respiratory technician.

According to Capt. Shaun Westphal, a 379th EAES CCATT critical care nurse, of all the patients the team responds to, burn victims require the most care. These two Soldiers required 11 hours of constant monitoring. Their fluids had to be adequately maintained. Burn patients dehydrate easily and need to be rehydrated, but they can't be overhydrated.

"You set yourself up for the worst-case scenario and hope for the best," said Captain Westphal. "The job is complex because you never know how sick that patient is going to be."

CCATT medics see some of the most critical medical situations in the world and one of the most challenging aspects is when responding to servicemembers who are injured by IEDs. Those attacked by IEDs typically have a combination of injuries including burns, limbs needing amputation and complicated breathing from what is inhaled as a result of the IED exploding.

"One of our saving graces is that the patients are young and healthy before they are injured," said Maj. (Dr.) Jimmy Lau, a 379th EAES CCATT physician. "Fortunately, these Soldiers did well on the flight."

Adrenaline, caffeine and supporting each other as a team allow the CCATT to function at the top of their game. The teamwork implemented by the CCATT makes it possible to give the patients the care they need en route to their destination.

"We could be in the middle of anything when alerted (to a medevac mission)," said Captain Westphal.

The team has about 10 to 15 minutes to get on an aircraft once alerted. Their gear, weapons and intelligence briefings are brought to them on the flightline.

According to Major Lau, each CCATT team is unique in its makeup and their camaraderie is phenomenal. He said Sergeant Vensel should have separated from the Air Force by now, but when she found she would be working with the "Incredibles" she extended her Air Force time to deploy with them.

The team was deployed to Balad in 2005 where they responded to 23 missions. At the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the "Incredibles" have responded to eight missions.

"The most rewarding part of the job is providing the best care en route to a hospital or facility that has more resources to treat the person's injuries or illness," said Sergeant Vensel.

"It's nice to know at the end of the day you did something incredible," said Captain Westphal.

The 379th EAES team that accompanied the CCATT on this mission was Capt. Leon Kehrer, flight nurse; Staff Sgt. Christine Hill, aeromedical evacuation technician; and Senior Airmen Aubrie Miskell, aeromedical evacuation technician.

The flight crew comprised Capt. Nancy Badgett, pilot; 1st Lt. Phil Domke, co-pilot; 1st Lt. Angela Stephens, navigator; Chief Master Sgt. Sean Flannery, flight engineer; Senior Airman Briani Beebe, loadmaster; and Airman 1st Class Sheldon Cary, loadmaster. 

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