Medical program bolsters traveling Air Commandos health

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kentavist P. Brackin
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

Thousands of U.S. tourists, many of them service members, travel to countries throughout the world every year; some unaware of various contagions with harmful and sometimes deadly potency.

 

Fortunately, Hurlburt personnel can utilize the Travel Medicine Program to prepare themselves for health threats no matter where they travel outside the U.S.

 

The program is a free service, open to all active-duty personnel, dependents or retirees who may be going on vacation outside of the country.

 

Members can walk-in to the deployment health section, located inside the Hurlburt Field Clinic and receive information about their destination by medical experts without having to see their primary care provider.

 

“Our Airmen are skilled technicians,” said Maj. Kristen Robertson, 1st Special Operations Aerospace Medical Squadron public health flight commander. “They are the same medical professionals who ensure our deploying Airmen are protected against health threats downrange, and they take that same approach in protecting the health of our leisure travelers.”

 

Depending on where they’re going, personnel may be sent to the immunizations section to get shots or scheduled for an appointment with their medical provider if they require something such as malaria medication.

 

If we identify specific vaccines for a particular location you are traveling to, then please keep in mind the benefit of the vaccination far outweighs the consequences of going without it,” said Staff Sgt. Evon Pennington, 1st Special Operations Aerospace Medical Squadron NCO in charge of deployment medicine. “Even if it’s somewhere like the Bahamas for a few days, we still offer our services.”

 

According to Pennington, the area to be most wary of when planning a vacation or getaway is northwest Africa due to its recent outbreaks of the Ebola Virus.

 

“At the moment there is no vaccination against the Ebola virus so it important that travelers understand what and where it is and how to avoid contracting it,” she added.

 

 

“Not all locations that members travel to may require medication or vaccinations, said Robertson. “Our technicians provide members with critical information about diseases present in the specific areas they are visiting, so that they can enjoy their vacation and return home healthy.”

 

For more information about potential hazards of future vacations contact the deployment medicine section at (850) 881-3030 or your local public health department.