Medics maintain readiness through patient decon exercise

The 375th Medical Support Squadron executed their quarterly In-Place Patient Decontamination training Aug. 17-18 at Scott Air Force Base.

The purpose of the IPPD training is to provide hands-on equipment training for the first receivers who may have to decontaminate patients exposed to harmful chemical, biological, or nuclear agents.

“Our medical forces are charged with providing immediate and thorough decontamination in the event of either an accidental chemical contamination or an attack wherein chemical weapons are used,” said Lt. Aaron Smith, 375th MDSS Medical Logistics Flight Commander.

Smith said the 16-hour training, broken up between classroom and hands-on scenarios, ensures that the team of 28 medics are postured and ready to rapidly receive patients.

The classroom material focused on the different types of chemicals adversaries might attempt to use and discussed the effects of chemicals found on base in the event of a mishap.

“Understanding the different properties of chemicals and what signs to look for in potentially contaminated patients is an important piece of keeping both the patient and the people around them safe,” said Smith.

The hands-on portion of the training was designed to ensure the medical team can rapidly and effectively suit up in the proper personal protective equipment, set up a decontamination tent, and quickly begin to receive patients.

Master Sgt. Christopher Walthall, 375th MDSS medical readiness flight chief, said, “The synchronicity, communication, and sense of urgency of the team was exceptional.

“The standard is to be mission capable within 15 minutes and our team accomplished that in under eight minutes.

“They aren’t doing this day after day, which makes their performance even more impressive. It shows the diversity of our medics’ skillset and what we bring to the table.”

Due to the current events happening around the world, Smith said this training was as important as ever.

“We have seen, over the past year, chemical weapons being used not only in combat but on civilian populations as well,” said Smith.

“Seeing the devastation that occurred in Syria earlier this year clearly shows the need to have forces ready to respond to these types of attacks.

“Whether there is a flight line fuel-spill or a train carrying hazardous materials crashes, our forces are postured and ready to respond, decontaminate, and treat.”

This story was originally published August 24, 2017 at 11:48 AM with the headline "Medics maintain readiness through patient decon exercise."