CBRNE exercise preps Airmen for quick medical response

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kentavist P. Brackin
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Hurlburt Airmen from the 1st Special Operations Medical Group, Fire Services, Security Forces and Emergency Management participated in a semi-annually conducted Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive response training on Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 10.

The training tested Hurlburt Field first responder's ability to react to CBRNE-simulated scenarios and provide treatment to possible victims depending on the scenario.

"The purpose of this exercise is to work on communications skills and team work between the two entities - the medical group and the fire department personnel," said Staff Sgt. Glenn M. Rodger, the incident commander for the exercise and the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of fire logistics for 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron.

The scenario involved an early morning car-bombing at the base car wash with 17 victims suffering from possible mock-injuries. Within minutes of being notified fire department personnel sped to the scene and hosed the area down while assessing the victims.

White powder, simulating chemical burns and make-up simulating ghastly cuts and bruises, covered mock victims, volunteers from 1st Special Operations Wing.

According to Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Estes, moulage artist for the event and evaluator for one of the response teams, the moulage injuries added realism to the training and gave responders a better idea of how to treat wounds.

"During an explosion, you're going to see a lot of burns and lacerations on the victims," said Estes. "A lot of [the volunteers] did some acting to simulate chemical symptoms so responders know they suffered from injuries like breathing or burning of the eyes"

Fire department personnel assessed and placed the injured on tarps depending on their injuries and quickly provided specific treatment to each casualty once medical personnel arrived.

"The communication went very well this time, a lot better than in the past," said Rodger. "Overall, it'll help us to be more professional and respond more efficiently to get patients treated, and we want that to flow upward through the Airmen all the way to the wing commander."