An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Mass Casualty Training Exercise solidifies Whiteman's readiness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cody H. Ramirez
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  The 509th Medical Group's Home Station Medical Response teams took part in a Mass Casualty Functional Training Exercise Feb. 11, at the Community Activities Center and base clinic.

More than 50 wing-volunteers gathered to be patients or victims in the exercise.

"The purpose of the training was to test the response capabilities of the MDG HSMR teams," said 1st Lt. Christine M. DuBray, 509th Medical Support Squadron medical readiness flight commander. "This included evaluating the scene organization, command and control, triage techniques, clinical skills, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear considerations to a mass casualty incident."

The scenario played out as ambulance services received a call stating the base theater was being evacuated due to a bomb threat. Fire protection and security forces response teams were on scene assisting the evacuation when a 'bomb' exploded in the facility's evacuation area. About 50 casualties were reported, some exposed to an unknown chemical.

The incident commander requested the Field Response Team's assistance to provide immediate medical care for victims who had been taken to the CAC and clinic, according to
Lieutenant DuBray. Additional resources were requested as needed and were received quickly, ultimately saving the 'lives' of numerous casualties.

"This training not only tests the skills of medical response, but helps the medics identify what methods work best during a crisis," Lieutenant DuBray said. "It prepares us to respond and care for Whiteman members and their families in case of a real-world event."

An exercise evaluation team recorded the HSMR's performance and use of equipment.

"Overall, we performed well, but we found areas for improvement, which are already being implemented into how we save lives" said Maj. William Magee, 509th MDG EET team lead. "The point of this exercise is to find ways to be better, and we did exactly that."