Medics and providers at the TF 34 Troop Aviation Clinic were faced with decision-making and treatment under the confusion of a simulated mass casualty on October 14th. MAJ Thomas Pagenkopf, Physician Assistant for the 834th Aviation Support Battalion (ASB), worked with six medics and two ambulance drivers outside the Troop Aviation Medical Clinic to triage and treat four casualties in the exercise.

SFC John Munz, Medical Operations and Training NCO for the 834th ASB, said the exercise was designed to "provide area and equipment familiarization for participants and to facilitate inter-agency cooperation." Participants included personnel from TF 34 and the Air Force-run fire department on the west side of Joint Base Balad.

“Important lessons were learned and experience was gained as our combat medics had an opportunity to work through what they would face during a mass casualty”, said MAJ Pagenkopf. “They have the training; Skill in assessment and treatment come from experiences such as this.”

Important lessons learned were familiarity with the equipment located in the Casualty Collection Point (CCP) boxes located throughout base, and to use these resources to treat patients. SFC Listrom, NCOIC of the clinic, noted the importance of this experiential training to prepare Soldiers to be ready to react to whatever our mission brings. CPT Bruce Kelii, the Medical Operations Officer at the Aviation Clinic added "It is important to identify the problems and engage scenarios that we may encounter. Mitigating issues early through these practice scenarios will help identify our shortfalls. We use information from the exercises to refine our model to be prepared should our clinic need to respond to a Mass Casualty incident. It is equally important that we know how our mutual response partners conduct business so we can synchronize our assets and provide optimal emergency care and assistance."

The Task Force 34 Aviation Medicine Clinic supports over 3,000 military personnel plus some civilian personnel stationed on the west side of JBB. The clinic provides emergency response and ground evacuation in addition to other duties including routine Soldier health care and physicals. The clinic conducts intra-agency training opportunities for clinic personnel and medical and emergency response personnel from other organizations including KPR, the east-side based ambulance service, Guardian Medic, the west side Air Force fire department, security forces, and Brigade force protection.

CPT Cheryl Wachenheim, HSC 834 ASB MEDLOG Officer
14 Oct., 2008