Medics, aircrews work together to save lives

  • Published
  • By Capt. Mae-Li Allison
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  The cold, metal interior of a loud, rumbling C-130 Hercules, accompanied by the smell of jet fuel and the sight of red tracer rounds in the distance, may not seem like the ideal environment to treat patients. However, for those providing medical care to those who need it quickly, there is really no other place they would rather be.

“I love what I do,” said Maj. Susan Martello, a flight nurse deployed to Southwest Asia from the North Carolina Air National Guard. “In fact, I’m glad I’m in the Air National Guard doing this because this is my permanent job. If I were on active duty, I would only get to be a flight nurse for a single tour.”

Major Martello and her aeromedical-evacuation crew of two medical technicians, normally fly about once a week on various types of aircraft, caring for patients being flown in and around U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility.

“Back at home, our crews usually consist of about five people, and our trips are much less frequent than they are here,” said Tech. Sgt. Sonya Kidd, a medical technician on her first deployment to Southwest Asia. She is a reservist from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

During their flights, aeromedical-evacuation crews tend to patients who will get more thorough care at other base medical facilities.

The aeromedical-evacuation crews fly from airfield to airfield, dropping off patients hubs with medical facilities where patients can get treatment or transportation to places with more advanced treatment facilities.

“When they first get on the plane with us, we check their vital signs and ask them questions about their general condition, such as whether or not they are feeling pain,” Sergeant Kidd said. “This helps us keep them comfortable during the flight.”

Pain management is a very important element because of the often bumpy flights and sometimes abrupt maneuvering required when flying into hostile territory, the Airmen said.

If a patient needs more involved care en route, such as a breathing ventilator, he or she will be accompanied by a team all the way to the medical facility where the patient will ultimately be treated. The final destination ranges from Germany to the United States.

A critical care air transport team consists of a medical doctor, a nurse and a respiratory therapist.

“(They) have only recently been (used) to take care of critical-care patients, and I’m glad for that,” said Lt. Col. Valerie Vail, an aeromedical-evacuation nurse also deployed from the North Carolina ANG. “Patients who need high levels of care need to have a special crew with a doctor dedicated to them.”

People who were treated by the aeromedical-evacuation and critical-care teams say they are very appreciative of the care they have received.

“They (on the aeromedical-evacuation team) have treated us really well, “ said Army Sgt. 1st Class Willie Thompson, who was being flown out of Iraq to have minor surgery at another air base in the area. He said that the treatment he has received from the Air Force medical staff was very good.

Many of their missions last between 12 and 15 hours each. During that time, the crews work closely with the aircrews who fly the planes.

After attending an intelligence briefing with the aircrews about possible threats, the aeromedical-evacuation crews normally head to the plane early and load the aircraft with litters of equipment and personal gear. They also load water and food for the patients.

Often, the maintainers and aircrews will assist when they are not busy getting the aircraft ready to fly. “The maintenance people and flight crews work very well with us,” Major Martello said. “They often help us load and (unload) the equipment.”

The aircrews also care greatly for the people they are moving, Colonel Vail said.

“It’s always nice to hear who the guys in the back are, and how they’re doing,” said Capt. Andrew Campbell, a C-130 aircraft commander. “It really brings our spirits up to know who we’re helping.”